Chapter 2
...
Tsukasa studied a map laid down across a wooden table. He kept his hands on either side of the paper to ensure it stayed flat instead of curling up.
"It'll be a long trip for sure," Soujiro sighed. "Our first stop will have to be in Singapore to refill supplies," he pointed to the location.
"I want to avoid any and all trouble while we go through the South China Sea. The navy sent a fleet out that way," he replied.
"Tsukasa!" Akira came through the door to the navigation room. "Looks like the boys found her."
He grinned. "Let's go take a look."
"That was quick," Soujiro said suspiciously.
Soujiro and Akira followed their leader out of the room and onto the ship's deck just in time to see Jack and Vane climbing aboard.
"We got her Captain!" Jack exclaimed as he saw Tsukasa walking toward them.
Vane put the kicking figure down on her feet and lifted the brown sack from her body.
She looked around with big blue eyes in fright. Not knowing where to keep her eyes at until she spotted Tsukasa.
Tsukasa stopped in front of her and pulled out a piece of folded paper from his pocket. He held the sketch of Princess Riona next to the young girls face.
"Light," he ordered and someone held an oil lantern between Tsukasa and the girl. It was an exact match.
"Well, well, princess," Tsukasa spoke. "Welcome aboard my ship."
Without taking his eyes off the princess he ordered his crew to pull up the anchor and set sail. They were leaving this poor sorry excuse for a town.
Truth be told he had not expected Martin to be telling a drop of reality in his words but the old rat came through. He glanced up the steps to the quarter deck where the helm was being managed by Soujiro.
Tsukasa stood there with crossed arms and a confident grin. It was soon wiped off his face with sudden impact to his jaw. He got a glance at a soaking wet figure digging their foot into the side of his face in a flying kick.
...
With darkness as cover and everyone distracted by Tess, not a single crew member had noticed the additional person who had made it on board. Tsukushi peered over the side of the boat, her clothes dripping with sea water. She scanned the deck and found Tess being inspected by pirates about four feet away from Tsukushi. The man was tall and built but seemed very young. When he ordered the crew to start the ship Tsukushi, without thinking or a plan in mind, pulled herself up and jumped forward in a flying kick toward the unlawful man. Her foot made perfect contact and sent him tumbling down onto the wooden deck and his hat flying off his head. Tsukushi landed in a crouched position on the ground in front of Tess.
In a quick moment Tsukushi whirled Tess behind her against the railing of the boat. Tsukushi had already unsheathed her sword and had it in a defensive position in front of them.
"Stay behind me Tess," Tsukushi warned.
...
"What the hell is going on here?!" Tsukasa yelled out as he gathered himself from the ground.
The boat and it's crew fell silent as his angry eyes scanned the deck eventually landing on a dripping wet boy holding a sword. The princess tucked behind him looking like a startled rabbit.
Soujiro nodded at the two strangers. "It seems the princess's lover came to her rescue perhaps."
Tsukasa's brown leather boots slapped against the wooden deck as he stomped towards them. He stopped a few feet from the boy's sword and glared.
"I don't like stow aways on my ship kid. Get out of here before you get yourself hurt."
In response the boy took a firmer stance with his sword and met Tsukasa's glare.
"Moron," Akira huffed from the sidelines.
"If you haven't noticed you're out numbered." Soujiro spread his arms wide to the large male crew behind ready with weapons and haughty grins. "So be a good boy and put the sword down."
The stranger said nothing and did not budge an inch. The frightened rabbit tightened her grip on his forearm.
The boat lurched forward as the white sails opened from passing wind.
Tsukasa grinned and looked at the two. "I am Captain Tsukasa Domyouji, and welcome aboard the The Ricco Nave!"
His grin disappeared in a scowl. "Grab them," Tsukasa ordered.
With the captains orders a few young members of the crew looking to prove their worth walked towards them with bored expressions while the rest watched. It didn't seem like they expected much of a fight.
...
"Jump Tess," Tsukushi whispered while sizing up her competitors.
Tess glanced over the side of the boat at the choppy ocean water.
"I can't!" She answered in fear.
Tsukushi clashed swords with one pirate. The pirate was using lazy sword play as he made very messy swings. Their swords clashed to make a cross, the pirate held his sword horizontal and left his hand too close, exposing it. She pushed forward with all her strength catching the man off guard and brought the sword's handle down on his hand. In a cry of pain and surprise he dropped his sword and Tsukushi kicked him in the gut away from them.
Everyone seemed surprised.
"I'll be right behind you Tess," Tsukushi huffed. "Now jump!"
"I can't!" She cried again.
"Damn it Tess just-" In a last minute dodge Tsukushi moved her head to the side but still felt the tip of the blade skim her cheek. Tsukushi raised her sword to be locked in another battle.
Tess screamed behind her and from the corner of her eye Tsukushi could see another pirate grab Tess by the arm. Tess held onto the the side of the boat with all her strength.
"Get away from her!" Tsukushi demanded and made the mistake of turning her head.
The impact of a hard object against her temple reverberated through her whole body. Everything was fuzzy for a moment and she couldn't feel anything. She was only slightly aware of her body being pushed down to the wooden boards.
...
"He's a decent fighter," Akira admired.
A slight groan from the young boy surprised them.
"He can take a punch too. Stubborn kid," Soujiro muttered.
Tsukasa raised his fist in the air and addressed the crew. "What do we do with the bilge rat men? Shall we let him take a swim!"
The crew members threw their fists in the air and chanted, "Walk the plank!"
"Haha!" Tsukasa grinned maliciously.
A grunt from his left caught Tsukasa's attention. The scared little rabbit had escaped the grasp of her captor and had stolen his dagger that she know held at her throat.
"If you do anything to Tsukushi I-I'll slit my throat!" The blade shook from her unsteady hand.
"Whoa there sweetheart," Akira spoke softly as if he was calming a spooked horse.
"When did my damn ship become a drama theater!?" Tsukasa exclaimed in anger.
"Put the sharp knife down sweetie. It's not a toy," Soujiro spoke with a charming smile and took a step forward.
"Don't come closer!" She pressed the knife onto her skin, not enough to cut her but dent the skin and make a point.
The crew looked to Tsukasa. He figured she was bluffing but on the off chance she wasn't he was out a helluva lot of money and the effort to get here.
"Put the kid below," Tsukasa ordered in resignation.
The two men holding down the kid hauled him to his feet and dragged him off through the opening in the deck that led down below.
The princess dropped the sword and fell to her knees. Akira grabbed the dagger while Soujiro helped her up.
"I'll take her to an empty cabin," Soujiro told Tsukasa and motioned for another man to follow him below.
Tsukasa pinched the bridge of his nose to try and stop the headache that was creeping up.
"What are we really going to do with the kid?"
"Drop his ass off when we stop in Singapore," he answered matter of fact. "Let them deal with him."
Akira nodded. "Alright! Shows over! Get back to work!" Akira ordered. "Unless you want to take a swim as well?"
The crew went about their regular duties on that note.
"Your hat sir," a deck hand held out Tsukasa's black tricorn hat, embroided with gold thread with a white plumage feather sticking out the back.
"Aye," Tsukasa grunted and took his hat back setting it back atop his mane of curly brown hair.
It would be a long trip for sure, he thought vexed.
...