Hey everyone! Christina here to update you guys with our third chapter of When I Find You! We're so happy and excited with all of the positive feedback we have gotten! We're so happy with it all, and we are glad to know you guys are enjoying it! The nex chapter will be out next Monday as promised, and we're in the middle of chapter (I think it might be) almost somewhere between seven and ten! So stay tuned! Stay cool and in school too, that's important too. ;)
"Smith?"
"Aye."
"Jameson?"
"Here."
"Valdez?"
"Si."
"Alright," Javier sighed. He jiggled the ropes that bound him to his unconscious partner. "There are a dozen of us; six pairs. Can any of you see who I'm tied to?"
The other pirates squinted through the gloom of the dark cell in the general direction of Javier's voice. They had all gone through the same experience; they had been partying on the ship, blacked out, and woke up in this strange holding cell. The only thing they conclude from their surroundings was that they were still at sea. The rocking motions were hard to deal with when they were bound on the floor. They were bound and trussed in pairs, and a quick roll call had identified all of them but one.
"Blast it all! Javier, it's one of the girls!" The rest of the men murmured their agreement. Even through the gloom, it was impossible to miss the twin's long hair and smaller frame.
"Is it Holly?" Smith called. "Or Anya?"
Javier shrugged and tried to shake the girl awake again, drawing out a groan of discomfort. "Piratas bastardas..." she muttered.
"That's Anya." The crew decided unanimously.
A door at the end of the cell opened abruptly, and light streamed thought the opening. A single silhouette stood outlined in the doorway. He entered the room with a long katana in one hand and a lantern on the other. The crew bit back gasps as they saw the new arrival's face. The figure was male, with cropped black hair framing his pale face. He was wearing a white naval uniform. And his features were decidedly Japanese.
"Attention, those of you who have awoken," the young man announced in clipped, precise English. "You have nothing to fear from us if you comply with the instructions I shall give you. Any attempt of escape or violence will be handled immediately and without mercy. Captains Kirkland and Carriedo of the Hetalia will no doubt return for you soon, in any case. You will be untied, but confined to the hold until your captains surrender to the naval captains. You are prisoners here, but you will not be treated unkindly as long as you behave. I assume you have no problems with this arrangement. Good day."
As the officer began to leave, Javier called out. "Hold it, compadre! I don't have a problem with it; none of us do. It's part of the pirate life! But this girl isn't one of us. Our captains will skin us alive if she is mistreated or hurt in any way."
The boy paused in the doorway. "A... girl? Why was she on your ship, if she isn't one of your crew?" He held his lantern higher, and Javier scrunched down so that Anya was visible.
"Anya and her sister helped us out of a situation, but ended up having to stay as guests on our ship. The captains adore these girls, and so do we." The officer's stern face did not soften. He slowly walked over to Javier and lowered his katana.
"If you move, I will be forced to use this in an unfriendly manner," he warned. He sliced cleanly through the ropes tying the two together. Javier sat there, statuesque, as the Japanese man laid his lantern on the floor and lifted Anya to her feet. Her eyes finally flickered open, and the boy's breath caught at the utterly terrified look in her eyes.
"Can you stand?" he asked gently. Anya blinked, and then suddenly slammed the young man against the wall.
"Where is Holly?" she demanded. "Who are you and what did you do with my sister?"
"My name is Kiku," the boy replied calmly. "I do not know anything about your sister named Holly."
"Give me one good reason why I should believe that," Anya growled. Her arm crossed Kiku's windpipe and was about to force an answer from him, but cold steel teased the back of her neck.
Kiku smirked. "Is that a good enough reason? Now please, release me. I do not wish to hurt you or your crewmates."
"They aren't my crewmates," Anya muttered. She reluctantly released the boy and allowed him to pin both of her arms behind her back. Keeping his katana close to Anya's throat, Kiku backed slowly out of the room.
"You, the man I untied; after we leave, you may free your friends. I will be locking the door behind us, so keep this in mind: if there is any trouble from any of you, she will be the one to answer for it." Javier gave Anya a helpless look, and she nodded slightly to know she understood the situation. The captured pirates were all protecting her. Her rush of affection toward the Hetalia crew was cut short as Kiku escorted her out.
As soon as the door shut behind them, Kiku shocked Anya by instantly releasing her and bowing his head in apology. "I am terribly sorry about that," he whispered frantically. His whole demeanor had changed completely. The coldness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a guarded curiosity. And he was much calmer- he even turned his back on her, an enemy, to lock the pirates in.
"Please," Kiku begged. "I don't want to fight with you. I didn't realize that you weren't a member of the crew. Of course, now we can't just keep you locked in there with the rest-" He continued to nervously ramble like that while Anya just stood there, mouth agape. She finally got over the sudden mood swing and listened to her instincts. They were telling her to run. The second she took one step, however, the blade of Kiku's sword was there, blocking her way.
"What do you want with us?" she squeaked, mentally cursing herself for showing fear so easily. But the only thing her eyes could focus on was the steady tip of that blade.
"Captains Kirkland and Carriedo have stolen much from the southern ports of my country. The entire naval force of Japan has been deployed to capture them and retrieve the stolen goods." Kiku shook his head slowly as he sheathed his katana. "Surely, you know this already."
"... They said the navy was chasing them," Anya recalled. "They didn't go into that much detail about it; just enough to convince my sister and I that we couldn't turn around and go home."
"I see," Kiku said, clearly not understanding at all. "In that case, would you like to accompany me in my report to the admiral? We may be able to work something out to help all of us."
"So you really don't know where Holly is?" Anya persisted. "I'm sure if you ask around you'll find the person who kidnapped her. She looks exactly like me! We're twins, you see, and-"
"I'm sorry," Kiku insisted. "You and those men were the only ones captured. We can only handle so many prisoners of war, after all. We simply went for the pirates who were either extremely intoxicated or particularly well dressed, as you are."
"My... My sister is still on the Hetalia?" Anya whispered. "She isn't here?"
Kiku shook his head sadly. "If you wish, I could ask the admiral to have a squadron sent out to retrieve her, as well."
"A squa-? Just who are you, anyway?"
"Of course, how rude of me." Kiku straightened his spine and clicked his heels together, giving her a light bow. "I am Kiku Honda, captain of the main vessel of the imperial navy of Japan. If it weren't for the circumstances under which we have met, I would say that it is a pleasure meeting you."
Anya's eyes narrowed. "So it's your fault that the Hetalia couldn't turn back," she accused. "If you hadn't been chasing them, they could have let us go!"
"Let you go?" Kiku repeated. "The man you were tied to said that you were a guest of the captains."
"Of course he said that," she grumbled. "Well, it's partly true. But did he happen to mention that his precious captains held Holly and me hostage?"
"...No."
"Typical. They were going to send us back home in a lifeboat, but a storm blew us halfway to India, apparently. Ant- Captain Carriedo said it would take two weeks to sail back against the current, and that was bad enough. But you and your navy just had to be pursuing them, so the Hetalia simply couldn't afford to lose the time she had gained."
"So the pirates kept you as prisoners?" Kiku guessed worriedly.
"Actually, no," Anya admitted. "What Javier told you was true. Toni and Artie really were very sorry and upset about the whole thing, and treated us well. They even loaned us some of their old clothes, since all we had was our school uniforms."
Kiku quirked an eyebrow. "The captains of the strongest pirate ship in the known world allow you to address them with nick-names?"
"Th-They asked that Holly and I call them that," Anya blushed. "As soon as we were on board! I didn't at first, but Holly kept going on and on about 'Toni this' and 'Artie that'. It sort of... grew on me, I guess."
"Alright, alright!" he pacified. "I believe you. The person you'll have to convince is my commanding officer, if you want him to believe you're not a pirate. Your story is quite far-fetched, you know."
"If it's so far-fetched, why do you believe me?" she shot back. The hot-tempered twin faltered when Kiku's eyes met hers fully for the first time.
"It's the look in your eyes when you talk about your sister," he stated simply. "A person can put false devotion into their words, but not in their eyes."
"O-Oh..."
"Anya, do you accept my invitation as a captain to join me as I report your situation to the admiral? I'm sure he will hear you out and find a way to reunite you with your sister."
"Yes," Anya answered immediately. "I want your admiral to know straight off that I am not a pirate, and that I will find my sister again if it kills me." Kiku smiled lightly and gallantly offered his arm, like a true gentleman. Nearly drowning in deja vu, (and secretly a bit charmed by the formality of the gesture), Anya laced her arm through the crook of Kiku's elbow and allowed him to lead her to the bridge. Loud voices could be heard arguing inside; the admiral and the rest of the naval captains were in a large-scale debate. Kiku put a finger to his lips and entered first. Anya lingered beyond the doorway, just barely peeking in as the officers argued.
"I'm telling you, he won't give it up!"
"Pirates are always loyal to their own-!"
"But where are they-?"
"One week, I say! One-"
"Ahem," Kiku coughed. The chatter ceased at once as heads turned and seven captains leaped to their feet. At the end of the long conference table, an older man remained seated. He had the air of wisdom and experience, with a lined face and graying hair. He gestured for the other captains to sit before addressing Kiku.
"Captain Honda," he acknowledged. "The status of the prisoners, if you please."
"Hai, admiral! The pirates have all regained consciousness. I informed them of their situation and left one man unbound, so they will all be free by now. I locked the door securely, of course." He produced the heavy brass key out of his pocket and tossed it to the admiral, who caught it with reflexes unimaginable for his age.
"Very good, captain." The admiral pocketed the key. "But you freed them on your own? You have exemplary skill with the sword, Honda, but you aren't stupid. How did you ensure that the pirates would not attack you?" Before Kiku could answer, one of the captains gave a shout. A millisecond later, a silver knife was humming in the wall, a mere hair's breadth from Anya's ear. She screamed and nearly tackled Kiku in fright. A bad move, it turned out. Before the echoes of her scream had faded, the girl had three swords trained on her; one at her neck, one over her heart, and one barely touching the tip of her nose.
"Enough!" Kiku barked. Anya clutched at his shoulder as she watched his commanding persona take over once more. "This girl is not an enemy. She is a victim of Arthur Kirkland, just as we all are. I brought her here to confer with the admiral, not to be assaulted! Sheathe your weapons!" The captains were gone as abruptly as they had arrived. Anya was suddenly standing alone under the collective gaze of eight strange pairs of eyes. Kiku took a large step to the side, struggling to support his expressionless attitude.
"Admiral, this is Anya. She and her sister were kidnapped from the coast village where the Hetalia attempted to go ashore for supplies. She wishes to ask something of you." Kiku sat down with the rest of the captains, shooting his new friend an encouraging look. Anya tried not to fidget as she waited respectfully for the admiral to give her permission to speak. Finally, the admiral broke the awkward silence.
"Young lady, there are some things you must understand right now. We are busy men working on a sensitive operation, and have no time for games. I do not want to hear anything that is not both relevant and truthful. Is that clear?"
"Er... Uh... Hai?" she blushed at the suppressed snickers that her attempt received. Anya knew maybe six words in Japanese, two of which were wasabi and sushi. At least she had remembered the correct word for 'yes, sir' instead of her favorite, baka (idiot).
"Very well," the admiral approved, swallowing a deep chuckle. "Proceed."
"Thank you, sir," Anya nodded her head. "Ki- I mean, Captain Honda has informed me that the men in the hold and I were the only ones taken from the Hetalia. My sister is still on that ship, sir. I would like to respectfully request that I rejoin her as soon as possible." She watched the admiral's face carefully, but he gave nothing away. The other men were equally guarded.
"I do not understand," the admiral said at last. "Do you wish to return to the Hetalia and remain a hostage?"
"My wish, admiral, is to be with my sister." The captains grumbled over her statement until one spoke up.
"Permission to speak, admiral?" one of the officers broke in. Anya recognized him as the knife thrower.
"Granted."
"Correct me if I am mistaken, but I have a feeling that Miss Anya may hold the absolution of our debate." The captain locked his eyes on Anya's, and she had to bite down hard on her lip to keep from gasping. That misty gaze had been the last thing she had seen before blacking out on the deck last night. She was sure of it.
"Anya?" Kiku persisted. "Can you answer Captain Souma's question?" The girl jumped, finally breaking eye contact with the ebony-eyed man. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't hear the question. Captain Souma, were you... by any chance...?"
"Yes," the captain leered, amused. "I apologize for the rough treatment, but the mission left little room for error, and you had already seen me, anyhow. Imagine my surprise when the lovely young lady in pirate garb suddenly appeared, when she was supposed to be in confinement with the other prisoners." He expertly spun a knife in his hand, making hypnotic patterns in the air. "But on the subject of our dilemma, what is your opinion of the relationship between the commanders of the Hetalia and their crew?"
"They're family," Anya supplied instantly. "Each man aboard that ship is a brother to all of the others."
"Even the captains?" Souma pressed.
"Especially the captains!" came her shockingly defensive reply. Anya herself was confounded by the truth in her words, and in the sense of pride she had developed for the Hetalia's crew. "Captain Kirkland refused to turn around and take my sister and me home because it would result in a confrontation with your navy. Neither of the captains would ever put his men in unnecessary danger." Her speech was followed by an uproar of You see?'s and I told you's, which were silenced with a wave of the admiral's hand. He stood, and the other officers scrambled to follow suit.
"Thank you, Miss Anya," he said sincerely. "You've been an invaluable help to our cause." The admiral turned away, dismissing the meeting. All of the captains went about congratulating one another and looking quite pleased with themselves.
"Wait... What?" Anya protested, bewildered. "How was any of that relevant to getting Holly back?"
Kiku grinned and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Anya. You'll see your sister again before the week is out! You've just given us the assurance that our plan will work."
"And just what is that supposed to mean? Kiku, don't talk in riddles!"
"What Captain Honda means," Captain Souma corrected, sneering. "Is that the men we have captured will be more than enough to get Arthur Kirkland where he belongs; in irons!"
"Please, Holly. We'll get her back." The two captains continuously attempted to calm the sobbing child. She took a shaky breath before sitting up, the light making her migraine worse. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying (it had been about six hours now), and her face was stained with dried tears.
"Bella, the best thing for you right now is to sleep," Antonio attempted to soothe her.
"I can't sleep...I don't want to...I miss Anya..." Another tear fell down her cheek, and she tried vainly to restrain the tears.
"You'll never be able to do anything in your current state," Arthur remarked, "You have to get some sleep." He finished the last word on a note of annoyance within his voice.
She looked away before stating, "We were fighting when she went outside...I didn't even tell her 'I love you' or 'I'm sorry'..." She choked back another sob in her sentence, and gasped when the Brit pulled her into a tight hug. He made sure not to crush her; she was fragile right now, after all.
"So that's why your hermana was so upset and angry last night..." Holly nodded quietly at Toni's words. "Je suis desole, ma bonbon, je desire aider toi..." The Spaniard tried using some of the French that Francis had taught him so long ago.
"I-I'll be fine Toni...There's no real way to help me right now..." she trailed off quietly.
"Well, get some sleep. We'll wake you up for dinner." The young girl agreed and finally lay down. The two captains stayed in her room until they were assured she was fast asleep. Antonio kissed her forehead softly, and Arthur breathed a whisper of "sleep well" before following his friend out. Holly could wait until she was rested for them to fill her in on just how dire Anya's situation was...
"Kiku, what's going to happen now?" Anya questioned. They were resting in the captain's cabin, admiring the clear ocean water from a wide window. The other officers had returned to their ships already, but the admiral was somewhere on the main ship as well. From the position of the sun, Anya guessed that it was maybe around four in the afternoon; well past noon, but not quite evening.
"It's hard to explain," he dodged. "Arthur Kirkland is basically the most wanted man in the whole country, so most of the information regarding this operation is supposed to be kept a secret."
"Who would I tell?" Anya reasoned. "I'm stuck here until your boss decides to throw me in the brig or send me back to the Hetalia with Javier and the rest."
"He isn't going to throw you in the brig!"
"Ki-kuuu," she whined. "How can you just sit there and not tell me anything? Am I not going to be able to go back to Holly? I thought you were my friend!" She swallowed against the growing lump in her throat. "I have to know, Kiku. I need you to tell me what you're going to do to, and how I can keep Holly from getting mixed up in it!"
Kiku cursed his own weakening resolve. But the girl before him looked so desperate… He had to do something, at least, to alleviate her anxiety. "Yes, yes," he shushed, walking over to the door to his state room and sliding the bolt home. "But you can't let on that you know any of this information. It is highly sensitive."
"Arigato gozaimas, Kiku!" Anya tackle hugged him, earning a single squeak of protest before the Japanese man hugged her back awkwardly.
"Y-You're welcome," Kiku stuttered, flustered. He sat down on the edge of his bed, and Anya readily joined him. "Captain Kirkland didn't steal from easy targets; churches, orphanages, and other such places. The Reina Marie always went after much more difficult prizes."
"The Reina Marie?" Anya repeated in confusion. "What ship is that? Arthur is the captain of the Hetalia."
"That isn't exactly true," Kiku admitted. Having the girl's undivided attention was making him nervous, so he distracted himself by tracing the cherry blossom print on his comforter. "Antonio Carriedo is the only captain of that ship. Kirkland and his crew are only borrowing their services as a favor. The Reina Marie was his true ship."
"Well, what happened to it?"
"Her," Kiku corrected. "We sent her to the bottom of the sea." He said it so calmly that Anya wasn't sure she had heard right. Before she could open her mouth, Kiku asked that she not interrupt him again, lest they run out of time. His guard shift would be starting soon.
"We put up with Captain Kirkland for some time, because he was actually doing the government a favor. They would steal from rich nobles and give the money to people who really needed it."
"Like Robin Hood," Anya couldn't help but put in.
"Robin Who?"
"Never mind; it's a western thing. Please, keep going."
"Of course. Captain Kirkland never took much of the spoils for himself; he is quite an unusually magnanimous corsair. He would save a small portion from each raid for himself and his crew, as is pirate tradition. Under law, the government isn't allowed to do that. I actually found myself looking up to him for quite some time before I became a captain. But then he stole something that we just couldn't ignore."
"What was it?" The violet eyes trained on him were no longer disconcerting. Kiku had Anya captivated by the story, and the captain started loosening up, getting into his tale.
"We call it the Earth's Heart," he whispered dramatically. "It is a jewel unparalleled in both beauty and value. It is an uncut, heart shaped emerald."
"How big is it?" Anya demanded. A jewel? That was the only thing standing between Anya, Holly, and home? She jumped as Kiku delicately took her hand in his. With his index finger he traced a heart shape that covered most of her palm.
"Wow," she breathed. She withdrew her hand slowly, still tingling from Kiku's touch. "Arthur stole something like that? A gem like that would set anyone for life!"
"And that's what is puzzling us the most," Kiku sighed. "He hasn't sold it, hasn't traded anything. It's like he doesn't even have it."
"Well, does he have it?"
"Excuse me?" The possibility hadn't even crossed his mind. "Of course he does! There was evidence found where the Heart was stolen. It was liberated from the personal collection of one of the oldest families in Japan."
"What kind of evidence?" Anya pressed. She was still wondering why she was being so defensive on Arthur's behalf, but nothing Kiku had said was adding up.
"That, I'm afraid, really is classified," Kiku shrugged in apology. He seemed to deliberate over something for a moment, and then asked, "You didn't happen to see anything strange on the Hetalia, did you? Maybe somewhere that he could have hidden it?"
Immediately, her thoughts were drawn to that secret safe in the wall. But it had held only maps, not jewels. But what if one of them was a map to the gem? But since she had no basis for this theory, Anya kept her mouth shut and shook her head 'no'.
"It's just as well," Kiku reassured her. "Kirkland will be in our custody within a few days, and you will be reunited with your sister. The government will take responsibility for the Earth's Heart, and things will finally be normal again. You know that we've been chasing that ship for nearly three months now?"
"Normal? I'm relieved." Anya's voice had dropped, taking on the cold tone she usually reserved for bullies, naughty children, and Toni and Arthur. "I was beginning to wonder if kidnapping was an everyday practice for a naval captain."
"What? It isn't! I mean, we don't…" Kiku trailed off, shocked by Anya's sudden mood swing. "They're pirates, Anya."
"Yes, and I was under the impression that only pirates held hostages for ransom!"
"I- I can't believe you're comparing us to-!"
A sharp rap on the door cut their quarreling short. "Captain Honda," a cadet reported. "It is time for Captain Souma's shift to end. Are you ready to take over?"
"Yes. I'll only be a moment." The cadet's footsteps faded as Kiku turned to Anya. "Look, I know this must be a tough time for you. If you want, you can rest here until my shift is over. I'll be back before dinner. Unless you'd like to join me…?" He left the statement hanging, a not-so-subtle attempt at patching things up between them.
It was an admirable attempt, to say the least, but Anya was too confused over the stolen gem and too worried about Holly to do more than send the captain a strained grin. "Thanks, but no thanks. I… I guess I'll see you later, Captain Honda." She bowed lightly and stood away from the door, staring at the ground and waiting for him to leave.
"Anya," Kiku said firmly. "I don't want you calling me that."
"Why?" she asked dryly. "I thought all men wanted to be reminded of how important they are. Isn't that right?"
"Not from friends," Kiku said sincerely. "And I very much want you to be my friend, Anya." He was halfway out the door before a small hand grasped his tightly. Anya wouldn't make eye contact with him.
"I'm going to go back with them," she whispered. "You realize that, right? We probably won't see each other at all after you get what you want." A single shimmering tear fell from her cheek, splattering Kiku's shoe. He didn't take notice.
"Then we will have to make sure to have as much fun as we can while you are here," he laughed. He gave her hand a light squeeze. "I know; the officers are having a celebration dinner to commemorate the approach of our return home. Would you like to come?" Kiku was feeling excited now, and the feeling was heightened when she sucked in a breath of surprise and nodded eagerly. Kiku blushed for some reason at the zealous gleam in her eyes. He cleared his throat and finally released her hand. "I really have to go now, but I'll come back soon. You should rest while you can; it will be strenuous for a few days while we wait." A second later, he was gone.
She knows where it is, Kiku despaired. He was standing at the prow of his ship, trying to catch his breath. I could see it in her eyes; she wasn't telling me everything she knew.
Kiku Honda, of all people, understood the urge to refrain from speaking in a strange mood. But he had been hoping that Anya would be honest with him. Now he would have to put the admiral's orders into motion.
"Captain Honda?" the admiral called benignly. "If you would stay a moment, I would like to have a word with you."
"Hai, admiral." Kiku waited until all of the other officers had exited the bridge. Anya, however, was lingering in the doorway, uncertain of what to do next. She looked to Kiku with pleading violet eyes.
"Go on," he smiled. "After I'm through, I can show you around. Just wait for me in the hall, okay?" The girl nodded and practically skipped through the door, closing it gently on her way. Kiku chuckled lightly, but the laughter died in his throat as he turned his attention to his stone-faced commanding officer.
"Honda, what do you think of her?" the admiral asked in a low voice. "Can she be trusted?"
"Sir, I haven't really had time to-"
"I'll get to the point, captain. That girl doesn't seem to trust me or the other captains. That's completely understandable. But she likes you. She could be very useful in getting Kirkland to surrender, if only you could persuade her."
"What could she do, sir?" Kiku was bewildered. "I admit that she is strong. If I had been unarmed when she woke up, I would be the one tied up in the brig right now. But pure instinct alone does not make a soldier."
"I'm not talking about her military tactics, Honda. Repeat to me exactly what the pirates told you concerning the girls' situation with the captains of the Hetalia."
"'The captains adore these girls, and so do we,'" Kiku recited flawlessly. "'Our captains will skin us alive if she is hurt.'"
"That's our angle," the admiral stressed. "What say Kirkland chooses not to surrender immediately? We could lose at least another month chasing him across the ocean, and this program is not at all cheap." His eyes sparked with a glint that Kiku had never before witnessed. It was sadistic and mean, and Kiku didn't like it at all. "All we have to do is use the girl to force him. If he refuses…" The admiral let the sentence hang, allowing Kiku's overactive imagination to cook up all sorts of awful things.
"No!" he blurted. "That is not how we do things! Sir, we are not pirates!"
"Nor are we men with much more time or money to spare," the admiral said, more calmly.
"There must be another way, sir."
"Perhaps," the older man mused. "If you could somehow convince her to reveal the location of the gem itself… I doubt Kirkland still has it on him. It's probably in some cave or safe house. Whatever the case, I'm putting you in charge of getting her to talk."
"How?" Resignation was winning over Kiku's will. He didn't want to hurt his new friend, but if the admiral gave him a direct order…
"I told you before, Honda: You aren't stupid. Be nice to her, butter her up a little. I want a location before tomorrow night."
"And if that is impossible?" The captain winced at the rebellion in his voice, hoping the admiral wouldn't take offense. This whole ordeal felt wrong, so wrong.
"Then we go with my original plan," was the subtly threatening reply. Kiku realized that he was dismissed and bowed, exiting to find an anxious Anya waiting for him. She smiled hugely when he emerged, her eyes broadcasting her relief.
"What did your boss want?" she asked, linking arms with him. "I didn't get you in trouble, did I?"
Kiku smiled at her and shook his head. "Of course not. We were just discussing… how wonderful it will be when this is all over."
Kiku shivered, although the air was warm. He tried not to think about what would happen if he couldn't coerce Anya into revealing the jewel's location. If he simply asked, he had a feeling that the girl would blow up at him furiously, and then the situation would be in the admiral's hands. He also tried to concoct some way to make things up to Anya about their little fight earlier. His watch would be over soon anyway, and he needed to get ready for dinner.
And he struggled uselessly to ignore the fact that the reason he had been so defensive was that he was of the same opinion as her; they were not pirates. This was not how they worked. Kiku silently vowed that he would solve this diplomatically, and not give the admiral a chance to use his backup plan. And who knew? It might not be that much of a chore to get to know this feisty twin a little better.
Thanks for reading! Next chappie on Monday; cross my heart! R&R and all that jazz.