Love's Vessel Chapter One: The Captain, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Author's Note: Hello and welcome back to the next chapter. I can't tell you when the next chapter will be posted though; I have yet to type it up; also because I need to start sending out transcripts to colleges and work further on my art portfolio, since I'll be graduating high school in June. Anyhow, I appreciate the feedback, so thank you very much!

Criticism is appreciated. Reviews are loved. Flames are ignored.

Summary: [Seto × Shizuka × Pegasus - After running away from home, Shizuka never thought things could possibly be worse aboard this elegant cruise liner--how wrong she was.

Pairings: Seto × Shizuka × Pegasus, Katsuya × Mai, Anzu × Yuugi, Mokuba × Rebecca

Age Information: Shizuka (17), Kaiba (20), Pegasus (24), Katsuya (19), Mai (21), Yuugi (19), Anzu (18), Mokuba (16), Rebecca (15).

Warning: Suggestive themes, sexual situations, alcohol consumption, language, and mild violence.

Love's Vessel
Electric Fizz

Chapter One: The Captain
× "The more the merrier as they say." - J. Crawford, Pegasus

"She seems to be a stowaway sir."

"So it seems by her attire," stated a man with silver hair. He eyed the girl lying in bed with curiosity, wondering why she was on his ship in the first place. He had been surprised when Kaiba had reported that he found a trespasser on the first floor deck, instantly hearing so he had sent his security to fetch the supposed intruder. He was somewhat surprised to find out the culprit was nothing more than a young girl. She had most likely snuck on when no one was watching. Although he was interested as to why she had been out cold when his guards had found her, only to find out the poor girl fainted when Kaiba had caught her.

"It seems like she's waking up," he said noticing the girl beginning to stir back into consciousness. He pursed his lips and silently watched her eyes flicker open slowly and heard a groan escape from her throat. Instantly, as he had predicted, she bolted up to a sitting position. He smirked, "Glad to see you're awake."

Shizuka let out a shriek of surprise and instantly clapped her hand over her mouth to silence it. He chuckled at her reaction, playing with the glass of wine in his hand, "So let us start with introductions, shall we?" there was a slight pause, "What is your name?"

She bit her lip, possibly considering whether or not she should reveal her name. After a moment of hesitation she opened her mouth to answer softly, "Shizuka. Shizuka Jounouchi."

Pegasus raised his eyebrows at the mention of the surname Jounouchi. Wasn't that one of the finalists in his tournament? But he clearly remembered that that person had been a boy; she was most likely related to him. If not, she was just a person who coincidentally had the same last name. He pursed his lips and took a sip of his wine as he thought over the name of that boy from his tournament.

Instantly the name clicked and he smiled, "Are you related to Katsuya Jounouchi?" he asked as he took a seat on the cream-colored armchair behind him. Her eyes widened at the mention of her brother's name and he knew at that moment that she indeed was related to Katsuya in someway.

She sighed, "I…I'm his sister."

"Ah," he simply stated, closing his eyes as he thought over what possibly reason Katsuya's little sister would be aboard his vessel. No answer came. After a moment of silence he finally asked, "Why are you on my ship?"

This was the question she was dreading to hear and she knew she had to answer. It was the right thing to do anyhow, since she was trespassing. But the only thing she was wondering was how did he know her brother? Well, she would find that out later. She didn't want to be rude.

"I ran away from home," she simply stated, looking down at her hands on her lap.

"Hmm and as to why may I ask?"

Shizuka instantly stiffened, contemplating if she should tell him or not. If she chose to tell him, it certainly would sound like an extremely childish reason and she knew it was, but could not have helped but ran away because of it. After a long moment of silence she opened her mouth to answer.

"I'm sorry sir, but that is private," she said, bowing her head in apology. He sighed, deciding not to question her any further on that matter. If she wished not to tell him, he supposed he'd let her have her way. He was a gentleman and would not pry into woman's matters. She could tell him anytime if she wished to. He hoped she would in due time.

"That's fine," he claimed rising from his seat and placed the glass of wine on the table besides him. She raised her head and he smiled, "Well Shizuka, you do realize you're trespassing on private grounds I presume…"

She nodded her head, "I'm sorr--"

He raised his hand to silence her, "…there however is another problem. The fact if I should release you without getting authorities involved, or not."

She tensed at the mention of the police and began pleading.

"Please don't!"

"You're quite lucky I have a soft spot for woman," he chuckled, "I suppose I'll let you stay on my ship. The more the merrier as they say, however we have to find you something more fitting to wear."

He waved his hand as he glanced over at her clothes and she felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Here he was dressed charmingly in a dark shade of red. The attire made him look quite flamboyant, but it indeed suited him and she could tell his tastes were…expensive and very tasteful. He laughed quietly at her reaction as he reached down to get his glass, "I'm quite certain we can find a dress for you somewhere."

He turned to glance at the guard which Shizuka just noticed. He had been standing near the door in silence all this time.

"Time to leave the girl to rest; I'm sure she's tired."

The guard opened the door for Pegasus who paused in the open doorway, "Ah, how rude of me. I forgot to introduce myself; I'm Pegasus J. Crawford. Captain and owner of this ship, although I do not steer the vessel," he chuckled and turned back around to step out of the room, only to collide with someone else.

Seto Kaiba.

Both men grunted at the sudden collision and glared at one another.

"Watch your step," they both said in unison. Eyes narrowed and the tension grew, only to dissolve when Pegasus smiled pleasantly, "Can I help you Kaiba-boy?"

Kaiba mentally cringed at the repulsive nickname. He brushed his shoulders off, "I'm here with the matters concerning the intruder," he said flatly, his cool expression never changing.

Shizuka instantly stiffened when she saw Kaiba. She knew if he found out she was Katsuya's little sister, he'd start using her to anger her brother. She knew he hated his brother as much as her brother hated him. She prayed to all gods that he would not recognize her, nor have her name revealed by Pegasus. The last thing she needed was to be tortured while stranded in the middle of the ocean.

"Shizuka is welcomed on my vessel," Pegasus merely claimed brushing past Kaiba, only momentarily to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder. The silent guard instantly yanked Kaiba's hand off his boss. Kaiba narrowed his eyes in anger and Pegasus clicked his tongue.

"Kaiba-boy you really need to learn better manners. Grabbing people like that is rather rude," he stated calmly.

Kaiba crossed his arms, "This is coming from the man who plays with toon cards."

"Touché dragon-boy, but cards have nothing to do with manners."

Kaiba mentally cringed at this new nickname. Kaiba curled his lip with resentment and glared at Pegasus with disdain, "Yes, how rude of me," he stated boringly and gestured with his hand towards Shizuka, "However I'm more concerned about who this girl is."

"And why is that Kaiba-boy?" Pegasus asked as his eyebrows quirked in question.

"I have a right to know since this involves the safety of my brother and me," Kaiba stated as he crossed his arms and gave Shizuka a look of disgust. Shizuka winced at the harsh treatment Kaiba was giving her and Pegasus instantly noted this. (1)

"And since when is a young girl like her a threat to your safety? If I recall this is my ship and I'm the one making the rules," Pegasus spat, his cheerful mood quickly dissolving. Kaiba's jaw stiffened and he clenched his fists at his sides, tempted to make a swipe at him for speaking to him like that. He however held himself back, not wanting to draw attention from the other passengers and security. If he had been alone on this ship with Pegasus he certainly would have knocked the marbles out of that head.

"Feh," Kaiba muttered as he turned and left. Shizuka was shocked that he had dropped the conversation so easily, knowing that he certainly would have pestered anyone else about it further. Did Pegasus scare him? Seto Kaiba didn't seem to be one to quake from fear. She silently wondered if she had been graced with a lucky break instead.

"Well then," Pegasus paused and turned his neck to look at Shizuka, "I'll be back later with a dress hopefully. Please get some rest."

And with that said Pegasus and his guard left, closing the door behind them. Shizuka pursed her lips as she took the moment to glance about the room she was occupying. It was quaint and decorated very tastefully. Not much was going on in the room either; there was simply a single armchair against the opposite of the bed she lay in. There was over a small armoire across the room and a bedside table that lay next to the bed.

She absentmindedly stared at the armchair that Pegasus had sat in a few moments ago and silently began thinking about what possible reason as to why he knew her brother. Her lips pursed together at the thought of her brother and she silently wondered if he had found the note that she had left by now and if so was he searching for her?

She sighed as she closed her eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry onni-chan." (2)

Katsuya Jounouchi frantically began rushing throughout his apartment, trying to find any reason as to why his sister had suddenly left like that. When he had returned home to silence, he instantly had gone to his sister's room expecting that she had fallen asleep and that had been the reason why the house was so quiet. He however was shocked to see a note lying gingerly on the bedspread and instantly jumped to the conclusion that his sister had been kidnapped and that letter was a ransom.

He was even more shocked to realize the letter was from his sister and that she had not been abducted. But the only question remaining was why had she left like this? And she even told him not to worry. How the hell could he not worry in a situation like this when a seventeen year old girl was out there somewhere?

"She probably ran off with a boy!" Jounouchi claimed to no one, his face turning red at the thought of his sister running off with another man. His blood boiled and he slammed the letter on the coffee table. He then threw himself on the futon and yanked at his hair as he tried to think rationally and hoped to all gods that his sister had not left the safety of his home for the sake of being with another man.

His irrational thoughts were interrupted however when he heard the front door creak open and he instantly sat up and shouted with hope, "Shizuka!"

"Calm down Katsuya," said his girlfriend Mai Kujaku. She instantly noted that something was amiss when the usual cheerful boyfriend of hers looked like he'd fallen into the depths of hell, "What's wrong?"

She closed the door behind her and immediately approached the disgruntled blonde.

"Shizuka ran away," he muttered glumly. Mai's eyebrows rose in shock, "I'm shocked to hear those words, but then again I shouldn't be surprised with the way you have been behaving."

Jounouchi instantly sprang up at those words, "What do you mean the way I 'have been behaving'? My behavior is just fine!" he shouted angrily. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, "You have been coddling her too much."

"I have not!" he growled.

Mai gave him a look that begged to differ with his statement. She sighed and noticed her boyfriend begin to fidget around extremely, "Are you okay?"

"I am just fine! Great, dandy, extremely peachy," he gritted his teeth, "It's great to know your little sister is out there somewhere and you haven't got a clue as to where!"

Mai sighed and threw herself back onto the futon, dragging Jounouchi down with her, "Have you tried calling her cell phone?"

Instantly Jounouchi lunged out of his seat to get the house phone.

Mai shook her head and muttered, "I thought so."

Jounouchi frantically dialed the number, only to be responded by a familiar tune coming from his sister's bedroom and he slammed the house phone back down in fury, "She didn't take her phone with her!"

There was a moment of silence until Mai opened her mouth, "Have you any clue where she could be?"

"If I did I wouldn't be here now would I?" Jounouchi snapped. Mai bit back her tongue, tempted to lash out at the younger boy, but knew he was behaving irrationally due to the predicament, so she excused him for now.

"Sit down," she demanded grabbing the back of his shirt and yanking him down next to her. Jounouchi didn't say anything else and just buried his face into his hands as a large exhale of breathe escaped from his throat.

"I'm a terrible brother," he declared miserably.

"No you're not. You just need to bring a notch down with how great you are," Mai stated as she placed her hand on his shoulder. Jounouchi sighed and laid back against the futon, "Do you think she's okay?"

"I'm sure she's just fine. She's a big girl after all."

"But the world is much bigger than her," he muttered and closed his eyed. (3)

To be continued.

Notes:
(1) - Please note that Kaiba doesn't quite remember Shizuka. After all, in the series they barely interacted, so that is the reason as to why he doesn't know her for now.
(2) - onni-chan means big brother.
(3) - Jounouchi doesn't have the Brooklyn accent here, seeing as I am keeping up with the Japanese version, instead of the American one (plus the fact it just looks nicer on the eyes and mind). Also, he seemed far too calm it seems, but in reality he's crushed and worried, unlike Mai who has full confidence that Shizuka can take care of herself.

Author's Note: I apologize (once again) if any of the characters sound out of character. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, since I have yet to write it. I'm hoping I will get started on it soon.

Thank you for reading.

This story, or any parts of it, is forbidden to be reproduced.