A calm beach...

Pure white sand and clear blue water...

Yami clenched and unclenched his toes and felt the warm grains slip over his feet.

He approached the water but when he looked down at his reflection something surprised him. The face staring back at him from the water was not his own. The eyes and face were more round and the eyes a light purple. Like shiny jewels, treasure. Yami loved treasure. Although there were some similarities between them, the star-shaped tri-color hair being the most obvious one.

He raised his hand to his face and was even more shocked to see his reflection didn't follow suit. Instead the smile on the other's face grew and he raised one of his hands to wave at Yami.

Yami reached forward to touch the water but just as he was about to break the crystal clear surface, the ground below him began to shake. The rocking was unmerciful. An earthquake? he thought. No, the movements created by earthquakes were much more random and unpredictable. Then what? As the shaking intensified Yami had to fight to remain standing.

BANG!

A loud clap of thunder awoke Yami from his dreams. He sat up in his hammock just in time to be dumped onto the floor from the rocking of the boat.

"Yami!" he heard someone yell from above deck, "Help us!" Jou maybe? Yami looked around. He was the only one still below deck. Everyone else was nowhere to be found.

He quickly ran above deck to find the person who had called for him and was greeted by a scene of total chaos.

Rain pelted his face as galestrom force winds whipped his hair into his eyes. The boat continued it's relentless rocking as twenty to thirty foot waves crashed onto the side.

The captain was at the helm attempting to hold as much control over the ship as he could. Bakura and Jou tugged uselessly at the sail ropes trying to steer them out of the wind. Marik and Malik were crouched together in a corner praying to whatever otherwordly being they worshipped. A bright flash of lightning lit up their faces long enough for Yami to see the looks in their eyes. Yami had never seen such a horrified look on Marik's face before.

And Yami understood why. Seven years on this ship and he had never seen a storm like this one.

Yami noticed Bakura struggling with his line and went over to help. Bakura turned to face him, a look of maddened determination ran through his eyes. Yami nodded and the two worked the rope together.

"Marik! Malik! We need your help NOW Damnit!" The Captain belowed. This knocked them out of their stupor. Marik and Malik exchanged a look of love before going to help Jou with his line.

For a moment it seemed as if they were going to regain control of the vessel. But Yami should have known better. Whenever man and nature squared off nature was always the victor. This storm was taking them wherever mother nature pleased and there was little the six men could do to stop it.

"Bakura look out!" Someone called out. Yami saw that the cannons had become untied and one was barreling towards him. He reacted quickly and shoved Bakura out of the way but he couldn't move fast enough to save himself. It crashed into him and knocked him down...

Over

the side

of the boat.

And he fell into darkness.

Ow my head... And my chest too. Yami thought. He opened his dark red eyes and looked around. He was in a small tent of some sort lying on a few blankets. It was probably around midday judging from the harsh sun that was peeking in through the tent doorway.

"Yami." Bakura said. Yami hadn't noticed him sitting beside his makeshift bed. "You're awake."

"Yea why wouldn't I b-" He stopped himself. The storm... Last night... Was it just last night? It feels like I could have been out for days... Yami thought. He remembered the cannon rushing towards him. Falling into the angry water... Then darkness.

"I take it you remember now?" Bakura broke into his thoughts.

"Yea but wh-what happened after?" Yami said. He sat up only to get another sharp pain from his chest. He noticed it was bandaged. One... two... three broken ribs. Yami thought, he could feel them sliding against each other. Ow.

"That crazy son of a bitch saved you!" Marik interjected from the other side of the tent.

"What?" Yami said shocked, "Bakura you could've gotten yourself killed!"

"Good to know my efforts are appreciated." Bakura said. Yami looked at him seriously.

"Thank you Bakura, you saved my life." Again... Yami thought. Just like that day so long ago...

"I was just returning your favor. That cannon was coming for me." The white haired man smiled one of his rare smiles.

"I ran to get a life ring as soon as I saw you go over," Malik said, "But Bakura realized you were unconcious and jumped in after you. He grabbed you before you started sinking then we all pulled you two up."

"Soon after the boat was pulled into a rocky reef inside of a bay. We all abandoned ship and swam to shore out of fear that the whole damn boat would sink." Marik explained. "That puts us where we are now. Jou and the Captain went to go observe the damage to the ship and we stayed here to keep an eye on you, sleeping beauty."

So I haven't been out long. Yami thought. That's good. He wanted to be the best help he could be to his shipmates.

"Hey you bildrats! Get out here, we have a situation report!" Yami recognized the captain's voice. The four of them exited the tent and Yami surveyed his surroundings, it was how the others had said. He was on a beach in a bay. In the distance he could the the Aoi Doragon caught on some rocks. Luckily it was still in one piece, though Yami could see some severe hull damage from where he was standing, probably about a half mile away.

"Yami you're okay!" Jou exclaimed. He ran over and caught Yami in a big bearhug. Yami flinched from the pain in his ribs.

"Ow Jou! It's nice to see you too but please stop!" Jou released him.

"Sorry man, I was just worried about you thats all." Jou said apologetically. Yami smiled kindly at him. "Look Seto! Yami is alright." Jou said happily.

"I can see that with my own eyes you sea-dog." The Captain bit back to him. He looked over to Yami and nodded approvingly for his wellbeing.

"I thought I told you not to call me a DOG Seto!" Jou shouted at him and everyone started laughing.

The Captain crossed his arms arrogantly over his chest and replied, "I won't even get on the subject of name calling with you."

"Guys?" Bakura interrupted, "The ship?"

"Is not exactly sea worthy." The Captain replied. "Get comfortable, 'cause we're gonna be here for at least two weeks."

"Luckily the supplies-" Jou started.

"I can give a report by myself thank you." The Captain said. Jou fumed but he continued on. "Luckily the supplies were untouched and we should have enough to last for the repair time and then the rest of the ride to Tortuga if we can salvage some off this island." Everyone seemed to let out a collective breath at that. "I checked the star charts and from my calculations we are on a small island to the East of Tortuga. Once the ship is sea-worthy again we should reach port in only about a day's sail. But for now I need you all to work your hardest on repairs," He looked at Jou, "so we can get going as soon as possible."

"Alright what do you want us to do?" Malik asked.

"Jou, Bakura and I will head back to the ship and begin the repairs. Marik and Malik should head inland to find trees that will make suitable wood for the hull. We're going to need it. Remember if you go inland further the wood will be stronger." The Captain instructed.

"What about me?" Yami questioned.

"I want you collecting supplies. Nothing too strenuous. We need those ribs to heal properly." The Captain said. It almost sounded compassionate. Almost.

"But-" Yami began to argue but the Captain fixed him with a steely glare. He knew Yami never went against orders.