Previously on Pirates of the Frontier...(Skippable)
"You're putting my hand up for marriage?!" Naomi barely touched her breakfast and already she received the second worse news in her life...
"You're not getting any younger." Her father said.
"Father I am 16!"She yelled.
"Anyway... I had a dress ordered in for you to wear for the matchmaking soirée tonight at the Conwy Castle."
"Tonight?!"
-Later that day-
"Otoya I don't know how to deal with this," she told her longtime friend and protector.
"Me either..." The redhead said as the two walked through the gardens. "I thought we would be together forever."
-scene change-
"It's not my fault the crew did a mutiny and marooned us," Captain Reiji said as he looked around the area. "Who would have thought that Camus was such a persuasive pirate."
Malraux clenched his fists at the sound of their traitorous ship mate's name, "When I get my hands on that sneaky White Devil..." Reiji places a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
"Marooned me once shame on you... marooned me twice... shame one me for not shooting you the first time."
"So what's the plan...?"
"We were supposed to come in and hold the ball hostage until pay day...but our dear friend Myu-chan had other plans." Reiji had a solemn expression on his face.
"You think he'll go through with it?"
"With the size of the crew he has, he'll succeed." Reiji glance at his friend with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "That's why we're going to be there and spoil the fun for him."
Moving onward now...
The evening sky was lite up with twinkling stars and a full luminescent moon. Below the heavens were the next generation of social elites and leaders, chatting and dancing to their heart's content. A few noblemen and noblewomen, such as Lady Red Dahlia, got lucky and found their soulmate. However, we don't care about the others happy blossoming love life. We just want to see the other UtaPri princes to appear already! So let's get back to what truly matters shall we.
"Ugh this corset is killing me...literally..." Naomi said as she smoothed out her white and blue dress with gold trimmings. The dress was made with beautiful Egyptian cotton with a sweetheart neckline to show off the small but still developing cleavage. The short sleeves on her dress hung loosely so her shoulders were exposed. Her dark hair was in a half-up-half-down hairstyle with and decorated in gem studded pins. Decorating her neck was gold chain necklace with a charm that was a dark blue. Her father said that this necklace was what her mother wore when they first met. Maybe it will bring her to her soul mate too...or not.
Otoya was of course by her side dressed in a black and gold princely like attire with a pair of red dress pants. Since he was there as her protector and not her date he had a well crafted small sword at his hip. The golden accents contrast with the black and it made him look mysterious and dashing. This was a bit of a character change to Naomi. "Lady Naomi do you want my to loosen the string for you?" He started to blush when he realized what he just said. "I- I mean I won't try to look or be a pervert or anything!"
Naomi covered her mouth to muffle her giggles. He looked so cute to her when he gets all flustered. "Otoya I trust you to take good care of me," She looked around before taking his hand. "Lets escaped to the powder room for a moment."
Naomi pulled the blushing Otoya through the crowd of heirs and heiresses till they reached one of the many small powder rooms. The lady carefully instructed her protector in how to undo the dress. With shaky hands, he laced up her dress and heard his lady gasped softly when she felt calloused fingers brushed against her soft skin.
"U-um..." he gulps when the upper part of the dress slipped off her body and he saw the tight corset that made her small body look curvy.
"Everything okay back there?" She asked him softly. Naomi was blushing lightly at feeling exposed to him. She just keeps telling herself that there is nothing sexual about helping a friend that just so happened to be a lady loosen her corset.
"Y- yeah just give me a moment," He took calming breaths to collect himself before he got to work. After loosening the corset so his lady can breathe, he put the dress back the way he saw.
"Thank you!" She greedily took in air. "You are amazing!" Naomi left a light kiss on his cheek before walking out of the room.
"Y-your welcome m-my lady!" He watched her leave then he shook his head to snap out of his thoughts. "You're her guard don't forget that." He told himself before walking out.
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Captain Reiji and his cook, Malraux, walked among the crowd in disguises. Although it was hard to blend in when they are dressed like they're ready for a masquerade rather than looking for their soul mates. Reiji wore a white suit with matching gloves as well as a green ribbon tied around his neck. To hide his identity he wore a black mask. Malraux wore almost the opposite of his captain by wearing a black suit with black gloves his mask was a rust color red with gold.
"Shit this necktie is choking me..." Ranmaru muttered out as he tugged at the collar.
"Language, no one is going to believe you're part of the social circle with that sailor mouth of yours," Reiji scolded him.
Malraux raised an eyebrow at his captain, "You do remember that I was already born into this lifestyle before I met you-" He was cut off when he ran into his captain's back.
"Wait!" Reiji squinted his eyes to get a closer look at the patch of red hair amongst the crowd. "No... it couldn't be." Reiji maneuvered through the crowd with Malraux right behind him. The pirate captain felt his heart pounded against his chest in excitement. When he saw the face that was attached to the head of red hair, he almost screamed. "It is him!"
"Huh? Who?" Malraux was confused with this sudden action. Sure he was used to his captain's spontaneous moments but that doesn't me he understands everything he does.
"Ranmaru we have to get that redhead alone," Reiji said with serious urgency.
"What did I say about using that name!"
"Now is not the time to argue they're getting away."
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Otoya and Naomi stuck close together as they watched everyone else dance to the calming music. It was quite boring, to say the least. The Guardian looked over to his lady and noticed a hint of longing in her eyes so he worked up the nerve to start talking. "U-um... Lady Naomi, would you like to dance...with me?"
The young lady was a bit surprised that he asked but was happy, nonetheless. "I would love too."
The young man offered the lady his hand and lead her to the dance floor. The music changed from calming to more upbeat tone. Now we all know how they choreographed the olden dances in movies that take place in like the 17th or 19th century. They usually look like their dancing in a circle if you look at it from an aerial view. There's a bunch of lifts and sometimes they switch dancing partners. If you don't know well...get some classy culture in your life! Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, The sweet Otoya is about to dance with the lady Naomi...
"Wow I never knew you were such a good dancer Otyoya," Naomi commented as she twirled in and out of his arms. The Lady assumed that her friend would have stepped on her foot by now.
"I picked up a few tips when I watched you go through your dance lessons," Otoya chuckled softly at the small happy memories of a younger Naomi stumbling on the dance floor. "I'm surprised you didn't trip on your dress by now," he lightly teased her.
"Well if I fall I'm sure you'll catch me..." Her rosed colored eyes looked into his ruby red ones.
"I will always catch you..." That was his personal vow to her. To support her and be there to pick her up whenever she fails. That is the duty of being her protector...and friend... But is that the duty he wanted? Just to be seen as a protector and friend... Never to be viewed as a love interest. The two get along very well and knew each other for years. They are at a matchmaking party... it's best to make an attempt now rather than not at all. "Um...L-lady Naomi..."
"Yes, Otoya...?" She tilted her head to the side as she looked up at him.
"I...um... I-I like..." Why was he so nervous to tell her how he felt?!
"Excuse me I'm cutting in," It all happened so fast. One moment we were about to see a love confession and the next moment Malraux intercepted and danced away with the captive lady in his arms.
"Otoya!" The lady called out to him as she tried to pull away from her unwanted dance partner.
"Naomi!" The redhead was about to chase after the two but was blocked by an arm.
"Hey kido just want to exchange a few words with you in private," Reiji said as he put on a friendly smile.
"Huh?!" Otoya was so confused with the turn of events. "But Lady Takeda-"
"Ah relax she's in good hands," The captain said as he leads Otoya away from the party by placing a hand on the young man's back. "Now If you don't mind me prying is that your natural hair color?"
"Y-yes!" Otoya was somewhat offended by that question.
"Are you born in this village? How did you meet that young lady you were with? Do you know who your parents? " Reiji fired one question after another as they walked. Time is of the essence and he didn't exactly have time for small talk. So this little chitchat was turning into an interrogation.
-Meanwhile-
Naomi was still struggling to get this strange man to let go of her. She occasionally looked back and saw the back of her protector get smaller and smaller. "Sir Let go of me!" She demanded.
Malraux kept his eye on his captain and watched him walk away with the young redhead. The pirate's job was to keep the lady away while his captain asked the boy a few questions. However, he has only danced with the girl for one minute and he's already about to lose his temper. "Look I just made your night a bit more exciting. So why don't you just shut your pretty mouth and enjoy the ride!"
Naomi's eyes widen in momentary shock. No man... No...No human being has ever spoken to her in such a manner. It infuriated her but she remained silent and continued the dance. It may have looked like he had the last word but she was creating a plan of attack in her head
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"Wow, that is a very interesting tale of yours Otayan ..." Reiji said as he tried to connect the pieces of Otoya's story together. 'He has no parents...red hair...and he was found at sea.' The Lucky Joker thought. There's only one thing left to do to confirm his suspicions. " Quick open up your shirt!"
"What?! I'm not doing that!" The redhead backed away from this weird man.
"Then I'll do it for you,"Reiji moved his hands to the bottom of Otoya's outfit and tried to undo the button but the young man pried his hands away.
"I said no!" It became a power struggle for the fate of Otoya's clothes.
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Lady Naomi started to sense something amidst. So it was time to lose her dance partner. These were one of those days when she was happy to wear heels. With all her might she lifted a foot and slam it down on top of Malraux's.
The man's mixed colored eyes widen behind the mask when a sharp pain went up his leg. "Damn it!" He cursed and let go of the 16-year-old to nurse his foot.
She smirked lightly and smooth out her dress. "I just made your night a bit more exciting. So why don't you just shut your pretty mouth and enjoy the ride," she quoted him before hastily leaving to find Otoya.
"Damn that little brat!" Malraux said through clenched teeth "She's gonna get it next time I catch her." He might as well what kind of progress his captain is making. He made his way through the crowd with a small limp but he'll live...he's been through worse after all. When he reached the hallway that was away from the party, he saw Captain Reiji wrestling with the young man on the ground. "Captain, what the hell are you doing?" How did a small chat escalate to this?
"Malraux, I'm glad you're here! Hold him while I try to open up his shirt." Reiji said while in mid-struggle. He has to know if he bares the mark...
"W-what?" Malraux knew his Captain was an idiot but this was just plain insane.
"Just do it!"
Without another word, the silver hair male got into the fray and was able to put the poor redhead in a full Nelson.
"Let me go!" Otoya moved around as he tried to get free. Why did this have to happen to him!
Reiji collected himself and stepped toward the restrained redhead. He grabbed the bottom of the shirt and lifted it up just enough to see the crown tattoo that was branded on the young man's skin. "By Davey Jones..." He gasped out, "It is you..."
"W-what are you talking about?" At this point, Otoya stopped struggling and save the rest of his energy. No one but Naomi has seen the mark of his blurry past. This stranger before him seemed to know who he is or rather was.
"Ikki... it's me... Rei-chan..." The man removed his mask and looked into the redhead's eyes. "Don't you remember me?" Of course he wouldn't... Reiji hasn't seen the boy six years. He actually thought Ikki was dead.
Otoya's eyes widen when he heard the name that he abandoned years ago. Who was this Rei-chan? The face and the name sounded familiar but he just couldn't place it. "I'm sorry... but I don't remember anything..." the eighteen-year-old looked down at the ground and Malraux slowly released him.
Captain Reiji was a bit disappointed that Otoya couldn't remember him but he can understand why. "It's okay..." He places a hand on the young man's shoulder. "It has been 6 years since the pirate attack."
Just when he said the word 'pirate attack' loud crashing sounds and screaming came from down the hallway where the party is being held. Sounds of the party guest yellowing out the word 'Pirates!' echoed through the halls.
"Oops...Looks like we were too late to stop Myu-chan's kidnapping plan." Reiji was so busy trying to figure out Otoya, he forgot that he had to foil his ex-shipmates plan.
"Kidnapping?" Otoya's heart almost stopped when he realized who was still at the party, "Naomi!"