Next chapter! If you haven't read it yet, go read 'Pink and Red'. Chapter 2 of that is in the works. Since the stories are running alongside each other, I'm gonna try (the key word there is TRY) to keep the chapters pretty close together. Hope you're enjoying it, and thanks for reading. The rating for this story, as well as 'Pink and Red', may change at some point, depending on where my mind wanders, and it tends to wander quite a bit.

Thanks for reading!

Kaizoku Sentai: Gokaiger

Black and Blue - Part II

Gamina hadn't intended on ever picking up that sword again. Not after so many losing battles. Not that her brother needed to know… The last things he needed to know were the things that had happened after she left the Galleon. God knows, he carried enough guilt because of her. And she didn't dare face Joe…

After finally setting foot on Earth, Gamina had made her decision. She wasn't strong enough to keep fighting with her brother and Joe. She never would be… As long as she had to continuously rely on them, Joe especially, for strength… She'd only hold them back. They had a team of much more capable comrades…

She hadn't ever intended on standing here, blade in hand, in the familiar dance routine with the man she cared for. She wouldn't say "love"… She refused to say "love"… She'd used that word before and she and her brother both had been hurt by the one she used it for… She wouldn't go through that again… Not that Joe would hurt her… She knew he wouldn't… But she was still frightened of going down that road…

Maybe she'd made a mistake in talking to her brother about it. But her fear wasn't the only thing that fueled the decision to leave. It was apparent that her brother had been thinking about it for a long time before their discussion. She didn't blame him…

Perhaps leaving was the best decision…

But then why did it feel so right to be in this familiar routine? Why did it feel like she belonged by Joe's side?

She almost didn't want the battle to end. There was a certain euphoria about their dance… but mostly… she didn't want to have to face the line of questions she knew he had. And she was almost terrified to look him in the eye. She'd been the one to make her brother promise not to tell Joe about her reasons for leaving.

She felt like she'd been holding her breath during the entire battle. When it was over, she leaned against a light pole to catch her breath. The pain from the attack to her backside, she could tolerate, for a while. She'd gotten good at coping with pain.

She stared down at the Gokai Saber in her shaking hand. It felt so familiar, but she knew she didn't deserve to wield it. The only reason she'd fought was to give a distraction for the student and teacher to escape. She hadn't intended on continuing the fight beyond that, but here she was… It had just felt so right, but she knew she didn't deserve to be there…

She felt Joe's eyes on her as the tremble spread from her hand to her whole body. She dropped the Gokai Saber, wrapping her arms around herself as it clanked and clattered on the concrete walkway. She kept her gaze downward to avoid meeting his. She wanted to run, but there was that part of her that craved to have his arms around her again. Everything would be alright, then, wouldn't it…? Everything had always been okay when she was in his arms. They were comfort, they were safety… They were a whole other world that she could disappear into. But those arms would come with a price this time. She was sure of it.

Joe frowned as he watched her. Something was wrong. This wasn't the woman he knew. It wasn't even the same woman that was just fighting alongside him. The way she stared at the Gokai Saber… The way she trembled… The way she dropped the Saber as if it was something she wasn't supposed to be holding… There were a million red flags that went up in Joe's mind while he watched her. But of all the questions also running through, he knew one thing was certain… She was frightened. She looked as if she'd just woken from one of her nightmares. He couldn't help to think that it was him she was frightened of, he just didn't understand why.

"Gamina…" There was a tremble in his voice as he slowly approached her, his hand reaching for her. But he came to a halt as she pulled further away, almost cowering. She didn't want him getting close. And that frightened him. Had he really done something wrong? Had he done something to make Marvelous send her away? But why? If Marvelous didn't like him, he could have just stranded Joe somewhere and kept his sister with him… What the hell had happened? Joe had always believed he was helping Gamina. She was mute when they first met, and it was Joe that she spoke to first. Joe was the one that held her every night, the one that fought her nightmares. Joe was the one she fought beside, gaining strength each day… What was he missing?

"I'm sorry, Joe… I… I need to go… The children…" Her trembling voice cut through his thoughts.

She pushed herself off of the light pole, getting ready to run, though Joe noted it was in the opposite direction than where the children had run. But the moment she no longer had the light pole for support, she stumbled, biting her lip to keep from crying out. The pain from the attack earlier was finally getting to her. But before she hit the ground, she felt his arms around her waist, gently pulling her towards him.

She knew the moment she was snuggled securely against him that she was lost to him. She didn't want to be anywhere else than right there. There was the warmth that he had always offered without any expectation of reward. The steady heartbeat and respiration she had always found it so easy to synchronize with was a little rapid, as it should be, they'd just fought in battle, but she expected it to be more controlled than it was. And she felt tension in those arms that wasn't there during those nights together. She felt him relax after a moment of holding her, and he sighed as he tried to force his heartbeat and breathing into a steady pattern. It felt almost as if he needed her in his arms as much as she needed his arms around her.

She took in a deep breath. The pain that came with it was a telltale sign of broken ribs, but she needed to breathe him in, that scent that only belonged to him. She released the breath, along with a slight whimper in pain. At least she was much less frightened than she had been a moment ago. She wasn't quite sure, yet, whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"The children are fine… You need treatment… Come with me…" He had some trouble controlling his vitals, or his voice for that matter. She was right here, she was in his arms, she was safe. The injury could be taken care of. But he was scared as hell. She seemed to be more fragile than she was when they first met… that was frightening in itself. Her current state made Basco's words earlier all the more real. That wasn't something that he wanted to think about…

"Not the Galleon, Joe… Niisan… He… He worries too much…" She held her breath as she felt his arms tense again, only briefly before they pulled her closer, as if he was afraid of letting her go.

"He has every right to worry about his little sister…" His voice was more controlled this time. But he held a hesitating breath for a long time before he continued. He didn't want to say anything that would make her run, and he knew there was risk of that.

"Especially after our run-in with Basco this morning…" He knew she'd never tell him whether or not Basco's words were true… but he didn't need her to, judging by how she completely froze in his arms. He closed his eyes a moment, to force down his anger. Not at her, he could never be angry at her… This anger was for the one that had hurt her… Next time he saw that son of a bitch, he'd kill him… He didn't care if he killed himself in the process, which was likely. Basco was strong, there wasn't any doubt of that, and he was also a sly bastard…

"Gamina…" He sighed as he opened his eyes. "You don't ever have to tell me anything you don't want to… I know you've been hurt… I knew that the first time we met… I never asked then and I won't ask now… Just… please don't run away from me…" Don't leave me again…, was what he was thinking, but he knew better than to say it. He knew he'd have to watch his words carefully, until he knew what it was that made Marvelous send her away.

He sighed again as he felt her lean into him. All too familiar, it was where he wanted her to be. Yet he wanted so much more than to just hold her. And he was more sure now than he was in the past that he'd probably never get that. At least he knew where the blame was to be placed. And it wasn't Marvelous. He'd only been trying to protect her when he sent her away, right? He'd known his captain long enough, now, to know he never does anything without reason.

"Joe…," she sighed, laying her head against his chest. She finally reached up, grabbing a hold of his jacket. If she didn't hurt so much, she'd be burying into him just like all those nights on the Galleon. That seemed like ages ago, yet she never forgot the feeling of being in his arms. "What about Niisan…? He carries enough guilt…"

Joe cringed slightly as he carefully lifted her up off the concrete, slightly grateful she still hadn't yet looked at him to see it. He didn't need to hear that. The words from Basco had been bad enough, so had the fight with Marvelous. But this was almost more than he could stand. And he thought the business with Barizorg had been painful. But he'd found the resolve he needed, at that time, to save his sempai's soul. He didn't know what he was going to do now. He knew he loved this woman, but he also knew he wasn't allowed to tell her. Though, he was beginning to understand Marvelous' warning about her when he first came aboard the Galleon.

"I don't ask questions I already know the answers to…"

Joe stared hard at his captain as he turned to the sound of his voice. He noticed Ahim standing just behind, and though curiosity was tugging at him, he kept his attention on Marvelous. The two men held a very tension-filled gaze for a long time. He instinctively pulled Gamina closer to him when he felt her trembling again, though he knew he was probably making her injury worse when she flinched slightly.

There was a long moment of silence before Marvelous spoke. "Mina… Will you let Ahim take care of your injuries?" His eyes finally left Joe's as he glanced over his shoulder to the ex-princess who'd been silently standing watch.

Joe knew Marvelous must have told Ahim about Gamina, otherwise he would have come alone. But he finally realized why she was there when she took a step forward. Her arm barely touched the captain's, but Joe could clearly see him relax a little as she did. When Marvelous' eyes met back with his, it was clear they understood each other a little better.

Gamina finally managed to gain the courage to look up at her brother as Joe's grip around her relaxed again. She had been expecting to see disappointment in his eyes. He had such confidence in her when she left the Galleon and she let him down. Instead she saw the same concern he'd always shown when he looked at her. She didn't know which was worse… He had enough to be concerned about without adding her back into the mix… If she understood what was happening between him and the pink pirate beside him… and she was pretty sure she did.

"Niisan…," she started as she looked down, away from the frown tugging at his lip. She noticed, then, that he held something tightly in his hand. His fingers flexed every now and then, giving her a clear view of what it was… the GokaiBlack Ranger Key… the key that Basco had taken from her not long after she left Joe and Marvelous. She suddenly felt sick... There's no telling what that bastard told them, but she had no doubt that there was truth in it.

"Gamina-san…" That soft voice almost demanded Gamina's attention and she darted her eyes up to meet Ahim's. Ahim gave her a small, but warm and understanding smile, though Gamina could clearly see concern in the woman's eyes.

"Please, return with us, to the Galleon. After we treat your wounds, I'm sure Joe-san will escort you to your home, if you'd like…"

Ahim ignored the glare she received from both men, keeping her attention on the woman in Joe's arms, that smile never faltering. Gamina admired the ex-princess. She knew Famille had been a peaceful planet… The woman had probably never held a weapon before becoming a member of her brother's crew. And she knew, from watching their bounties rise and rise, that the woman was far stronger than she appeared. Yet she still managed to maintain her softness and mannerisms.

Gamina nodded after another long period of what seemed to Joe was agonizing silence. He released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he carried her past Marvelous and Ahim. He didn't miss their conversation as they followed. He wished he didn't hear it. He prayed Gamina didn't, but it was too much to hope for. She gripped his jacket even tighter.

"Escort her home? Ahim, the Galleon is her home, it's where she belongs…"

"Cleary, it is not, Marvelous-san… Did you not see her discomfort? I know that you and Joe-san care for her, and I am sure she does, as well… But she does not feel that she belongs with us… I will do what I can to make her comfortable, but you must not ignore her request if she chooses to leave…"

Joe chanced a glance down to the woman in his arms. This was the most important person he had ever had in his life, aside from Sid-sempai, and she was probably more important to him than that. But Ahim was right, and Marvelous' silence was proof that he agreed. They couldn't force Gamina to stay, no matter how desperately he wanted her to. If she wanted to leave, he'd have to let her go. Though he hoped she'd let him tell her exactly how he felt before she did.