It had been around seven hours since the young swordswoman left her home island, and she was already getting the hallucinations. She stayed half slumped over the edge of the ferry, and would have been mistaken for a corpse had it not been for her light, but noticeable breathing.
"Aye lass, ya doin' okay?" a passing sailor asked, gently patting her on the back.
Aria's response was to puke out last night's dinner into the ocean. The sailor cautiously backed away as the gurgling sounds continued.
The teen grunted as she sluggishly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Great, now I feel ill and hungry." she muttered, dark shadows under her eyes contrasting against her pale skin.
Despite her foul mood, the day was perfect for sailing. The sky was vast with enough clouds for shade, and the water was clear and soft ripples completed the picture perfect scene. Aria would have none of it.
Aria didn't dislike the ocean, she just wasn't fond of nature in general. Add in some homesickness, a little regret, and you have a mentally and physically ill girl stuck in a ferry going hell knows where.
The young girl groaned loudly and weakly covered her ears when the intercom beeped. "Attention Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be arriving at Yoru no Hikari island shortly. Please remember to bring your belongings-" A sudden crash and scream interrupted the interception.
Aria's attention perked when a new voice suddenly took control of the intercom. It was a singsong voice, but no doubt a male's, "Please do remember to take your belongings and surrender them, you're being raided-" the voice cheered almost excitedly.
Aria had to bite her tongue to keep in a laugh when she heard someone in the background swear, some crashing, and madness for a few more seconds until silence prevailed again. The raven-head smirked as she looked around. It was quiet, but everyone was stiff.
"Bring your treasures to the deck, and step on it," the voice snapped irritably, "Anyone that refuses will be killed on the spot, so don't be slow." With that, the intercom went off, as did the passengers that started panicking.
Some were actually running towards the deck, almost looking eager to shove their prized possessions into the hand of pirates. Or at least, that's what Aria assumed they were. Most people were frozen in shock, or amusement; in Aria's case. Others opted to abandon boat, and swim back to shore if it meant keeping their belongings.
A loud bang echoed through the chaos. No one could argue that it was a gunfire. As the once pristine water started to seep red, Aria couldn't see anyone else trying to escape.
"Harsh." she whispered to herself, heading towards the deck for the heck of it. She wasn't going to give up anything today, and no one was going to make her. Hell, she only took orders from Ardelle, and only because she really would die if she didn't.
Some people were weeping and walked slower than Aria. She found that she couldn't blame them, no matter how pathetic they were starting to look. Most of the passengers had come from her home island, or a smaller nearby island, looking for a new start.
A somewhat pained smirk curled upon her lips, "Well, this is definitely a new start." she muttered, watching as an elderly man started kneeling in prayer.
It was a brisk walk to the deck, where a majority of the passengers were passing off their bags into one, big pile in the middle. She observed the men who she assumed were the pirates. There were currently two in clear view, but their pirate ship was nearby with backup. Plus, Aria had her suspicions there was a sniper somewhere on the ferry as well.
A man with alarmingly red, short hair was waving his hands happily, "Remember everyone, only valuables." he smiled sweetly, and if not for the knives that he balanced on his fingertips, he looked like a normal citizen.
Next to him, was a stern looking man who ought to be the Captain. He had long, black hair tied samurai style. He was clothed in a simple, black kimono. On his waist, was a blindingly white scabbard. It screamed against the dark attire.
Aria named them Guy One and Guy Two in her head, for simplicity's sake. Guy One was still cheering. Guy Two was still scowling. She smiled. What a dynamic duo.
The swordswoman however was snapped out of her musings when an irritated voice hissed at her. "Oi brat, stop being dazed and hand your stuff over."
Aria slowly turned to face them, making steady eye contact with those unforgiving dark eyes. She almost wanted to go closer to see if she could make out what color they were.
She shrugged, "You said things of value. What can a little bit of beli and feminine products do for you?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, looking half ready to unsheathe his sword and slice her head off. Aria smirked. It would certainly be a grand way to die, that's for sure.
"Alcohol and no split ends." he spat back in a cold, sarcastic manner.
The girl's eyes widened, "Did you just...make a joke? Like whoa." she murmured, tilting her head. "Didn't know you had it in you." she added sarcastically.
She laughed along with Guy One, which earned him a hard glare from his Captain. However, Aria could note it was visibly softer than any of his other glares she's seen so far. Secretly, she wanted to see his worst. The coldest, most bloodthirsty glare she could draw from him. A death wish too apparently, but hey she if she was going to die today, she was going to die pissing people off.
"Also, it's feminine feminine products. I'm pretty sure I need them more than you ever could." Aria explained blatantly, shaking her head at what possible fetishes Guy Two could have.
Guy Two glared at her with so much disdain, Aria wondered if he was trying to strangle her with his eyes. "Don't mock me, brat." he scowled.
Aria blinked owlishly, "I didn't?" she questioned. "I was just stating facts. Unless you need them, do tell ma'am." A victorious smirk curled upon her lips when she saw rage swirl in those hard eyes.
In a split second, he had his sword; a scimitar Aria guessed, held at her throat. It took her about three seconds to notice the actual blade pressing against her skin. She chuckled, Ardelle would have her ass if she found out she had let her guard down in front of armed pirates.
"Take it back."
Aria stared at him incredulously, "Which part do you want me to take back?" Not that she was planning on taking anything back, but you know, might as well make the best out of her short life. Pity really, she didn't even have a chance to show off her swordsmanship.
"The part where you called me a ma'am." he hissed venomously.
The girl smiled sweetly, "Oh." she answered. It was silent for about three seconds, but she kept eye contact the entire time. She was a little curious. Did pirates feel resent for killing people? She wanted to see. She could see her own reflection in those midnight black eyes. She wondered if she could see the light leave her own eyes when she died.
He narrowed his eyes and pressed his blade a little closer, "Take, it, back." he ordered, seemingly losing his patience.
"Okay." Aria lied. "I-" However, just as she was about say her last sassy comment about his lovely hair, a loud engine suddenly echoed across the ocean.
"Captain! The Marines are here!" one of the pirates from the ship yelled.
Guy One suddenly stopped laughing, and had his smile wiped completely from his face. It was strange to Aria. For the fifteen minutes she's known him, not once did he stop smiling. That reminded her, the little douche forgot their fifteen minute anniversary gift. Y'know, from a killer to his victim. Most victims don't last fifteen minutes.
Guy Two grit his teeth and glared at Aria for a few more seconds before huffing and removing his sword. "I won't kill you until I rip those words from your throat."
Aria laughed at that, "That would kill me, girlie."
Aria smiled innocently when steam sizzled from the taller man's head. She was fairly certain that she wasn't going to live soon, even with Marines boarding the ferry.
The young girl smiled sweetly and waved at the Marines, "Ah, hello-" she greeted.
"Shush, pirate!" one of them yelled, aiming his rifle at her.
A gunfire was heard for the second time that day. Although no blood was shed, everyone was stunned to some degree.
Aria had a stiff smile on her lips as she held one of her katanas out, letting the now harmless bullet fall to the ground. "What did you just call me?" she demanded.
The Marine growled, "You damn pirate! You're all going to Impel Down!"
Aria had a tick by her eye, "Why you little..." she hissed.
Guy Two stared at her katanas, held tightly in her angrily shaking fists. Although Aria had no chance of seeing it, his lip twitched. So they weren't just for decoration.