Adventures of the Phantom Pirates Chapter 1 Enter the APPRENTICE Magician

~Authors note~

~Hello everybody and welcome to the official Chapter 1 of Adventures of the PHANTOM Pirates. This chapter features the first official introduction of our titular main character. Well his civilian persona at least. This chapter features a rather familiar parody of the introduction from Magic Kaito so it is my duty to inform you that I do not in fact own these characters. Well except for the unnamed ones and Kaitos uncle Minato. Those all belong to me (Looking at you random sailor #301! ) With that said I hope you enjoy!~

...

The Lonely Bard Tavern, a place well known for being anything but lonely. A stop along the way for several sailors of various age and experience. Nestled deep within the heart of the port town Amani in the country of Amalure.

Here everybody was treated as equals regardless of stature or rank. You could share a drink and laugh at a tale of a complete stranger. Everyone always left with a smile on their face and a belly full of fresh food and ale. On occasion the odd man would stay the night in one of the establishments guest rooms for a couple of silver pieces a day. The owner Minato Kuroba was not a particularly greedy man, but he did enough to keep everything running smoothly for the most part.

The tavern itself was a simple design. It stood two stories tall and was the length of three average houses put together. The roof carried an elegant sea green tile design that stretched across its gables shining in the sunlight. The walls were made of a deep brown timber frame with gray stone interlaced between, which stood strong against the winds that blew off the coast. The windows were reinforced steel and glass mixed together in a design that from the outside seemed especially dull.

The interior was much more formal with similar dark wood framing and stone outlining the edges. The floors were made of a deep oak, stained cherry red. There were a few spots where the floor had been patched over the years from various degrees of heavy use and abuse. There were several assorted wooden round tables surrounded by your typical four legged chairs made of a combination of iron and maple wood grain. A line of wooden bar stools sat next to the bar and were mostly relatively new in design. Many of them had been replaced over the years for being in assorted needs of repair. The odd one had been forcibly used as a weapon in days past in a fight between unruly types who would had too much to drink.

Still you would have to be looking to notice the telltale marks of bar brawls gone by. The current owner of this tavern, as well as the previous, had always been quick to end such violence before it started. Any "rude patrons" were promptly removed, or left to suffer the wrath of the naval force whose home base stood not far from here.

Kaito knew every facet of the design for he had lived here most of his life. No one knew the tavern better than he for it had been in his family for a few generations now. His great grandfather had built it from the ground up one hundred odd years ago and his family had been raised there ever since. Kaito himself had his own room at the top of the stairs aside the guest rooms. It had a sizely terrace at which he could view the world below him. Sometimes when he was feeling especially adventurous Kaito would climb to the edge of the terrace and stretch his arms out like a sea gull in flight.

He had learned not to do so in front of his mother however, after a particularly chance venture had nearly had him plummeting two stories to the ground. Luckily his father had been there to capture him just in time, grabbing him up in powerful arms and pulling him back into the room safely. After taking a moment to collect herself Kaitos mother Chikage had scolded him rather harshly for doing something so dangerous and impulsive.

His father Toichi in return had simply wrapped his arms tighter around Kaito. He had then smiled at his wife and with a soft voice reminded her that he was "only a child" and "was not taught any different." Still Kaito could not't help but remember the strangely proud yet concerned smile that graced his fathers lips that day as he listened to Chikages continued ranting.

A large smile cracked across Kaitos face as he remembered his father, though inwardly there was a twinge of pain. It had been nearly eight years since his father had been taken from this world. This place was one of the few that held the odd memory of the man. It was in every regards his home.

There were some that laid claim to the fact that Toichis spirit still lingered here. Kaito never bought into such ridiculous tales. His father had died overseas in an accident that never should of happened in the first place. Yes, Kaito refused to believe in the existence of ghosts and phantom haunting. Little did he know that something was about to happen that would change his perspective on things quite dramatically.

...

It was a particularly bustling day at the Lonely Bard tavern. Some rather energetic sailors had just returned from a trading mission across the sea carrying with them some rather precious cargo from the country of Erstad. The cargo itself was nothing particularly special, save for a small collection of jewels priced rather expensively bound for some noble or other here in Amalure.

It was at least partially these jewels that had everyone in the tavern buzzing however. For the captain of the ship had contacted the local navy men after receiving a rather strange note. What was truly odd was this note had come while the ship was still in the middle of its voyage over the ocean. On top of this it was the the author of said note that really had the sailors on edge.

"Phantom 1412? This has to be some sort of stupid joke. No ones seen hide nor hair of him in over eight years. Why would he suddenly show up out of nowhere?" An elderly sailor commented while taking a sip of his frothing golden beverage. It was said that the Lonely Bard Tavern carried some of the best beer and ale in the country. Most men claimed it was second only to the "Boar Hat" of the north.

Kaito sauntered into the tavern just at the conversation was becoming more heated. Many of the regular sailors tipped their hats to him and greeted him as he passed. "Hey Kaito. Here to see yer girlfriend?" One of the younger sailors quipped. Kaito waved him off and continued forwards towards the back of the room just barely paying attention to the odd conversations on the way.

In the corner of the room near the kegs a young woman with long brown hair and a green tavern maidens outfit stood with her back to the excitement. "Hey Aoko!" The girl turned hearing her name and stared into the face of her best friend and fellow bar maiden. "Have you heard the latest news?" Aoko took in her friends brightly lit up face. She was clearly excited about something. Perhaps that thing that the sailors had been in discussion about all day?

"Do you mean about that strange note from that Phantom 1412 or whatever?" Aoko feigned a bit of ignorance as she knew perfectly well what her friend Keiko was referring to. After all her father hadn't shut up about it all morning, and it was rare that news in this place didn't travel around. The Lonely Bard wasn't exactly known as the "news center of Amani" for nothing.

"Yeah! Isn't it amazing?! I mean this guy just appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared just like that! Hes super mysterious. I bet hes super attractive just like the stories say too!" Keiko swooned.

Aoko cringed inwardly at her friends sudden excitement. True this guy was mysterious but handsome? Somehow she found herself doubting that fact. It was far besides the point anyway. Aoko huffed. "Hes also a criminal Keiko. Just who does he think he is sending cryptic messages like that out of nowhere? My fathers been on edge all day. Why if I had the chance Id give that no good pirate a real good thrashing!" Aoko suddenly grabbed a mop out of the corner and wielded it as if it were a cutlass.

Keiko backed away slowly from Aoko and shook her head. "Whatever you say Aoko." she giggled slightly as she watched Aoko swing the mop up and down at an invisible opponent. She was used to her friends eccentricities and that was what really drew her to like her. She had definitely inherited her fathers infamous raging temperament.

Aokos father was the head of the local navy and in charge of various criminal cases having to do with theft. He was among the first ones who had been contacted about the strange note. Keiko had heard rumor that he had handled a similar case near eight years ago when the pirate in question had disappeared suddenly off the face of the world. Now he had suddenly resurfaced and it was clear that Nakamori was determined not to let him slip through his hands once more. Keiko sighed and shook her head. "Very alike indeed." she muttered under her breath.

Suddenly she noticed Kaito approaching them out of the corner of her eye. "Ah, Kaito!" she said smiling as she noticed Aoko visibly flinch at the mention of his name. She chuckled knowingly once more. The three of them had known each other since they were children. Kaitos family had been the ones to offer she and Aoko jobs at this tavern. She knew very well how the two felt about each other even if they were loath to admit it themselves. They really were perfect for each other whether they realized it or not.

Keiko admitted to her own jealousy of Aokos love life as she herself was waiting to find her own degree of romance. Maybe that's why she was so excited about this strange 1412 character she silently mused. In her mind images of a handsome pirate clad in white (for that is what the sailors had been saying about him) swooping in to save her from her lowly life danced around restlessly. Keiko found herself blushing involuntarily at the thought of it all. She shook her head and turned her attention back to the moment at hand.

Kaito smiled lightly at Keiko before turning his attention to Aoko. "Hello Aoko." He said simply and Keiko stifled a chuckle as Kaito got up really close to Aoko his face nearly pressing against hers. She knew Kaito well enough to know when he was up to no good.

Aoko could feel Kaitos breath on her neck and her face began to flush red with embarrassment. Just what was he trying to do? The mop slipped from her hands clattering against the floor as she stared back at him and replied stuttering quietly "He..hello to you too Kaito." her face continued to flush as she backed up closer to the corner of the tavern. Aoko could feel a few curious stray gazes on her as Kaito became way too close for comfort.

Suddenly there was a blast of gray smoke and Kaito was standing upside down on his hands flipping her skirt up. "Huh white undergarments eh? Didn't know you were the pure type Aoko!" Kaito let out a hardy laugh as Aokos whole body exploded in a red blush.

"KAITOOOOOO!" Aoko bellowed as she grabbed hold of her mop once more. Kaito did a couple back hand springs off the floor and danced lightly atop a couple of the empty round tables. "You come back here I'm going to beat your dear..." Kaito paused momentarily holding up his hand in front of Aoko stopping her mid swing.

"Hold on who do you think you're calling 'dear' I don't recall asking to marry a hag like you!" Kaito chuckled ferociously as Aoko exploded once more.

"Marry you? Id rather be wed to a dead rat!" Aoko grabbed one of the pristine bar stools and flung it at Kaitos head. Kaitos eyes and the eyes of those around him widened as the impact shattered it into a hundred pieces and left a dent in the wall. Angry drunkards were nothing in comparison to the wrath of one Aoko Nakamori.

The men in the tavern all sat back as the sight unfolded before their eyes. All conversation fell silent save a few exclamations of amazement at the spectacle. There was also an odd curse spoken aloud as Kaito weaved his way through the various round tables taking care not to disturb the glasses of ale that remained upon them. Many of the regulars here were rather familiar with this scene and had experienced it a few times before. Others who were new to this flinched as they watched Kaito nimbly dodge several swings from Aokos mop. Still others whooped and whistled and were quickly silenced as Aoko knocked about several more chairs and bar stools. Still the collateral damage was relatively small considering.

"Ah come on Aoko its not as if its the first time I've seen you in your underwear!" It was at this point that some of the patrons who knew both Nakamori senior and his daughter wondered briefly if Kaito had a death wish. He quite clearly had no sense of self preservation if this conversation was any indication.

"That was when we were kids! That doesn't count!" she cried in disgust as once again Kaito did an especially impressive maneuver off of one of the taverns hanging chandeliers.

Minato who had come to see what all the commotion was about shook his head at the twos antics. He had once made the mistake of trying to stop the two only to end up on the worse end of one of Kaitos pranks. Despite being family Kaito was not above pranking those whom got in his way. Still if things got too bad there was always THAT which he could use as leverage against Kaito. He always kept a storage of them in the back just in case. Minato chuckled to himself. Just what kind of sailor was afraid of fish anyway?

"You're the one who let me look at them. Not my fault if you didn't see my trick coming! I'm the best trickster there is after all!" Kaito had attached himself to the top of the taverns ceiling like some sort of spider. Here he was completely out of reach of Aoko and her killer mop.

"Even a trickster like you wouldn't stand a chance against the great Phantom!" Aoko suddenly shouted. There were gasps around her as she mentioned the name. Was she seriously bringing him into this argument?

"Phantom?" Kaito asked his face a mixture of confusion and intrigue. "Now where have I heard that name before?" He thought to himself his mind wandering back to the conversations he had heard upon walking through the door.

Beneath him unbeknownst to the other occupants of the room a select few smiled knowingly.

"That's right Phantom 1412 hes a pirate who uses tricks to get in and out of ships could never measure up to him so you might as well give up!" Aoko wasn't sure where these words were coming from. Perhaps from a combined rage for both Kaitos huge ego and Phantoms ridiculous antics. Nonetheless she couldn't say she regretted speaking them, that is until she heard the laughter emanating from her arrogant friends mouth.

"Hahaha! You think so eh? Well then I guess Ill just have to meet this Phantom for myself huh?" Kaito jumped down swiftly from where he had been hanging and landed gracefully like a cat. There were a few cheers from nearby this time left unchallenged as Aoko stood still glowering evenly at Kaito.

"Stupid Kaito your tricks are nothing in comparison to Phantoms magic! Even dad had trouble catching him in the past!" Aoko locked eyes with Kaito who didn't even flinch under her gaze

Aoko readied herself for one more swing of her mop only for Minato to finally step in. Standing between the two and lowering his voice threateningly he spoke "That's enough you two. I've heard just about enough out of both of you. Aoko please get back to work. This will be coming out of your pay you understand me?" The owner looked crossly at Aoko.

Aokos face lowered towards the floor and she carefully let her mop drop one last time. "Yes sir." she responded dejectedly and wandered back to the corner where she had been earlier. She dragged her mop along the way cleaning up bits of spilled alcohol. All the while muttering under her breath about "stupid perverted magicians"

Minatos gaze then turned to Kaito. "And you. Do you have any idea what your father would of said if he saw you acting this way?" there was a certain undertone to his voice that left Kaito feeling slightly guilty.

Kaito scoffed lightly a frown barely evident on his otherwise expressionless face. "Tch. Like it matters what he'd think. Clearly I'm wasting my time here. I'm leaving." with that Kaito turned to leave but not before another puff of smoke enveloped the room. Suddenly everything minus the broken bar stool stood back in place where it had been before as if nothing had happened at all.

Aoko looked up from where she had been mopping distracted by the now clean floor. "Kaito." was all she said as she stared out the door where he had just exited. "Just what has gotten into you?" she thought to herself. She knew she didn't have time to chase him right now she had to get back to work. Still a part of her wanted to run right after him.

The sailors all stared around at the now unblemished room. Minato just shook his head and went back to wiping down the bar. "You're like your father in so many ways." he muttered to himself as he moved to fill a glass of wine for himself. "Its about time you learned the truth about him." He mused silently to no one in particular. With that everyone turned back to their individual conversations leaving the Lonely Bard Tavern bustling once more.

...

Kaito wandered out of the Lonely Bard Tavern anger and frustration still sizzling in his mind. He gripped his hands in fists as he did his best to keep a straight face despite the raging storm of emotions going on inside of him. "Just what gave him the right to bring my old man into this." Kaito thought to himself angrily as he kicked at a random rock alongside the stone pathway.

In reality his uncles words had cut deep reopening an age old scar. He knew his father most likely wouldn't of approved of the way he acted towards Aoko and yet in a way that was part of the reason why he did it. He had never really grown out of his childish ways, but it had been a long time since someone had really been there to teach him about being an adult. Kaito was no fool he knew that he acted that way to cover some of the void left by his fathers absence.

His mother had tried her best to raise him on her own after his fathers death but she was preoccupied with her own problems. His uncle and grandfather had taken possession of what remained of his fathers estate including the tavern itself as well as a few ships left under his name. It was one of these ships that Kaito felt himself drawn to now.

Kaito hopped aboard his own small sail craft the APPRENTICE and set out to the harbor where he knew the CLOVER was moored. "Trust the winds to carry you where you need to go." His father had always told him and he did well to heed those words.

He wasn't sure what brought him here. Perhaps all the thoughts of his father had him reminiscing in a way he couldn't quite put his finger on. Maybe it was the fact that other than the tavern this was the place to him that felt the closest to home for him. Much the same as the Lonely Bard the good ship CLOVER held quite a few positive memories of his father and the short time they spent together.

Kaito ran his hand along the sleek emerald green wood that made up the side of the CLOVER. She was a rather elegant merchant ship. Antique in design being built not more than ten years before Kaito was born. It was a miracle she had survived this long, but that was most likely due to heavy upkeep and lack of use. In all technicality she had been retired from duty not long after Toichis sudden passing. His father had been one of the primary designers of the ship having learned about ship architectural design from some of the greats of Xagon the country where he had met Chikage.

Several of the men who had known his father had fought for the CLOVERs preservation. On occasion she was still used for port to port transportation but she could no longer carry much more than a crew of twenty or so men. She was the ship where Kaito first learned to sail. He had been with his father on a few of his more minor trading missions to nearby ports.

Kaito slowly tethered the APPRENTICE to the side of the pier and took out a grappling hook. There was no one scheduled to be aboard the CLOVER today so he would need to find his own way aboard. Luckily this wasn't the first time he had done this. He slowly swung the grappling hook in a circle and tossed it upwards on an angle to the edges of the ships upper side. It connected with a thump and a twang as it hit the metallic siding and held tight. Kaito stretched the rope lightly making sure it was secure as he tied it around his waist and jumped on an angle to the side of the ship. The large boat didn't sway against his weight as he began to walk upwards towards the deck.

Though he knew he was secure he tried his best not to think about what was below him. For though he was used to sailing on the water he still didn't like swimming in it. Especially with what tended to lay inside of the water. He had learned that lesson rather early in his life and he would rather never repeat it. Shaking off such thoughts he continued to walk sideways up the side of the CLOVER. His many chases with Aoko and his own work at the shipyards had left him with a great deal of upper body strength. It took him mere minutes to crest the ship and drop down onto the main deck.

Recoiling the rope in his hands Kaito smiled to himself. Setting the rope aside he lay back on the deck putting his arms behind his head. "I'm home." he thought to himself and in a way he truly believed it. Here was a place he could feel truly comfortable. It was like his own private hideout where he could feel close to his father.

Kaito closed his eyes quietly and sighed. "Do you really think I'm a disappointment dad?" He spoke aloud to the wind. He shifted uncomfortably as he tried not to imagine the look of disappointment on his fathers face had he been there to see the whole spectacle. Still it was just as he said earlier what use was worrying about someone who was no longer with them?

Kaito shifted once more and found himself yawning drowsily. Pretty soon he began to doze off as dreams slowly began to drift in.

...

Kaito wasn't sure at what point he awoke but when he looked up at the sky he could see the sun was still high in it. Slowly sitting up he rubbed his eyes and glanced around at his surroundings. It took him a minute to figure out where he was before the memories of the days events came flooding back to him. He sighed once more and shook his head about to head back to sleep when suddenly a thought came to his mind.

"Phantom Pirate 1412. The sailors mentioned that he had disappeared some odd eight years ago." The thought hadn't really struck him before but it was really too odd to be a coincidence. "I wonder..." he thought to himself getting up and walking towards the Captains cabin.

He was still slightly in a daze at this point and his thoughts weren't connecting fully at the moment. Still he felt a strange sensation in the back of his mind. As if a distant memory had been awakened somehow. Something about his father and this ship in particular... Kaitos hand hovered over the ornate wooden door leading to his fathers old cabin.

Of all the areas on the ship this was the one that had been left mostly untouched. No one dared disturb his fathers cabin for it held the deepest sense of his presence of any of the areas on the ship. The CLOVER had seen a few separate "Captains" after Toichis death but none of them had been seemingly brave enough to enter his quarters. Kaito scoffed a bit at this silly superstition. Still he had to admit even he felt a sense of intimidation as he stood outside the doorway.

A shiver went up his spine as he continued to linger there for a few more minutes undecided. What was this sensation he was feeling? It wasn't fear...it felt more like excitement or anticipation perhaps. Finally he could take the wait no longer and he threw open the door only to find...nothing spectacular. Kaito chuckled lightly to himself his shoulders sagging a bit as he fully stepped into the room. Just what was he expecting? His fathers ghost to just suddenly appear there before him? He laughed lightly once more and closed the door behind him.

Kaito sighed and walked over to his fathers old desk. There were still a few old yellowed papers scattered about atop it. An empty bottle of ink and a black crow feather pen sat uselessly on the edge of the desk. Surprisingly there was very little dust in this room. It was almost as if it had been perfectly preserved after all this time. Kaito squinted for a minute as an afterimage of his father sitting beside the desk a younger version of Kaitos self sitting on his lap. He nearly gave a start as his fathers image seemed to look right at him smiling an unearthly grin. At that point the image disappeared however and Kaito was left standing once more in an empty room.

It had to be all that nonsense those sailors and Aoko had been going on about earlier with that Phantom 1412 or whatever. Kaito didn't believe in ghost stories, although he had to admit the idea of a pirate using tricks so much like his own did sound intriguing. Smiling lightly Kaito briefly wandered over to the seat next to the desk. It was a simple green padded oak chair. He recalled briefly how comfortable it had been sitting there in the past when his father had been around.

Toichi had always encouraged Kaitos love of sailing and of trick based magic. His father had taught him everything he could take in at such a young age. He recalled how much he longed to be just like his father when he was old enough to sail himself. His mother had been somewhat discouraging towards such notions insisting that he get a proper education and learn a separate trade like animal care taking.

Still Kaito had never lost his love for the sail nor for magic tricks. "You'll never measure up to him so you might as well give up!" Aokos words suddenly echoed in his mind once again. He felt a sting of pain in his hearts as he thought back on her expression just then. Still he quickly shook it off.

"Tch. What does she know? There is only one person in this world that I will never be able to measure up to." Kaito turned around and stared at the large life size painted portrait of his father on the wall behind the desk. He wondered briefly when his father had that put in as he didn't recall seeing it there before. "Toichi Kuroba Kuroba. My father." Kaito smiled as he stared at his fathers painted grin.

Kaitos eyes misted over slightly as he thought once more back to a time when his father was still alive. When he was home Toichi often gave "performances" of magic tricks in the Lonely Bard to the various sailors visiting from far away. Kaito would of course attend these performances taking in all the tricks for himself and learning them indirectly through watching.

Aoko and occasionally Keiko as well would often attend these performances. Kaito smiled fondly recalling how Aokos eyes often lit up the same as his at his fathers various antics. His father had indeed scolded him lightly one day for mistreating Aoko in a similar manner to how he had today. Once again Kaito felt a twinge of guilt at his earlier actions but he shook it off as he continued to remember his fathers words from that day many years ago.

Kaitos father Toichi had just finished his performance and was now sitting down to a simple game of cards with some of the sailors at a nearby table. Kaito was unsure of the rules of this game but he was pretty sure his father had referred to it by name as "Glic" or "Gleek".

"Kaito do you know what a poker face is?" Toichi smiled down at a young Kaito who grinned toothily back up at him.

"Poker face?" Young Kaito asked tipping his head to the side in confusion. What a strange term. He wondered if it was something his father had just made up.

"It means no matter what cards life may hand you. Good or bad you cannot let it show on your face." Kaito looked up at Toichi puzzled but took in his every word nonetheless.

Toichi continued to smile down lightly as he laid out his cards. "Tricks are no different. Even if they don't turn out the way you planned. Never let those around you see your true intentions." Kaito stared in amazement at his father as the others passed him the money he had just earned from his hand.

"No matter what happens always hold on to your poker face." his words continued to echo in the back of Kaitos mind.

Kaito returned from his daydream staring once more at the painting before him. "I still don't know exactly where you got that term from, but I have never forgotten your words dad." he smiled lightly and placed his hand on the painting. Suddenly he felt a jerk and found himself falling forward into nothingness. It was then that everything went black.

...

~Authors post note!~

~ Heh cliffhangers are fun! So what did you all think? Im not exactly confident in this chapter but I did my best to give my own spin on Goshos iconic character introductions. Hope it turned out all right. Let me know what you thought in a review if you can :D Much thanks to those whove commented/read so far! Did you manage to catch the easter egg in this one? Thats right the "Boar Hat" Is a reference to Seven Deadly Sins another anime with a slightly perverted yet bad*** main male lead. (Somehow I think Meliodas and Kaito would get along quite well someday maybe Ill write a crossover fic between the two) Well thanks again for reading everyone! I hope to have the next chapter up in another week or so. Well see how that works out. See you next chapter!~