Tales of Costumes

Chapter 3

Beyond the Deep Blue Sea

Unknown Location

Sheena could feel the cold splash of water on her cheek. Water had been dripping on her for awhile but she either ignored it or drifted back in and out of sleep. She was injured, Moving her shoulder or her ankle would cry out in pain whenever she made the slightest of movements.

Her eyes had been closed most the time she had no Idea of her surroundings but she could feel the warmth of the sun beam down on her body. Sheena opened her left eye and instantly squinted for the sun was beaming down through a hole in the ceiling and she was right under it.

Sheena soon took a glance around her surroundings. The areas around her were dim and she couldn't see because of the glare of the sun. 'Where am I?' was her first thought, There was a gentle swaying below her and that whatever she was on was moving at a slow pace.

Another drop of water landed again on her cheek which felt very damp to her as her body began awaken and get use to the sense of touch again. No longer wanting to get anymore cold drops of water splashed on her face. She slowly rose her self up until she was sitting on the hard wooden floor.

It hurt to move, her whole body was sore and when she finally rose up she gasped for air like she was hadn't been breathing for minutes. She slightly turned her head to the left trying to stretch out the pain in her neck. Then she turned her head to the right and a sharp pain caught her by surprise.

She cried out then bit her lip, She glanced at the wound she had obtained from the pirate she had battled with. The cut wasn't deep but it was long and small drips of blood were stained on her ninja uniform. She sighed as the pain begun to fade away but she felt more cautious of moving now not knowing the full extent of her injuries.

As Sheena continued to look around at her surrounds she heard the sound of breathing. She had assumed that it was herself just breathing very loudly and wasn't thinking to much about it. But she could now hear that the sound was coming from not very far from her maybe a foot or two away.

Sheena slowed her breathing, though it was hard and her mind was panicking knowing who was in this room with her. She had no doubt it was the pirate she had battled with on the pier of Luins dock and memories of what had happened were coming back to her like it had happened just a few moments ago.

'Is he awake? Is he watching me..?' Were the thoughts that raced through her mind. Sheena took out one of her many spell cards, Even with the years of training in Mizuho she couldn't control her paranoia. She was in an unknown surrounding and for all she knew she was a prisoner to the pirate clan.

Sheena maneuvered herself on to her hands and knees and began to crawl over to the direction of the breathing. It grew louder in her ear with every small step as she began to move away from the warm light she had woken up to. The room began to become more visible as she move away from the light.

There were barrels and wooden crates, The room as well as the crates were a shade of light brown and as she got closer to the breathing she could see wooden poles holding up the ceiling from the floor. Sheenas hand then fell upon something warm. It was the wrist of her enemy.

Sheena quickly drew her hand back just as fast as it had landed on his wrist. Sheena looked up at the pirates face in the dimly lit room. She saw the small cut on his cheek which she had made with one of her spell cards. His eyes were closed and his breathing was heavy, Yet he looked as peaceful as a corpse.

Sheena took a moment to overlook his body for injuries that he sustained. The information would be useful in case he woke up and they continued where they left off. His torso and abdomen were badly bruised caused from many of Sheenas seals exploding on the muscles.

While examining him she saw tucked under his belt the package that had been stolen from her. Sheena looked flustered and her anger had returned to her from eariler. 'I can't believe this is happening! If he didn't get involved this would have been a piece of cake..' She looked at the pirate coldly as she reached for the package under his belt.

A hand quickly grabbed her wrist, The exsphere on the top of the pirates hand was now shining a bright blue which caught her attention instead of the danger she was in. Sheena gasped as she looked towards the pirate who was now awake and smirking at her. Sheena winced while he twisted her wrist and then with a sudden movement he grabbed her by the shoulder and threw her in front of him.

She landed only a foot or two before instantly getting up and drawing two spell cards one in each hand and making her stance. The pirate sluggishly got up to his feet, drawing his twin blades one in each hand. Sheena could tell he was wobbling on his feet but she was in the same situation.

Her ankle was killing her and she could feel it shake more and more the longer she stood on it. She kept her focus though on him, looking him in the eye glaring. "Too bad you had to wake up just now, I was about to take care of you." Sheena said sneering at him.

The pirate just looked at her, Then he looked at his surroundings and frowned. "Where are we?" The pirate asked her almost like a child asking their parents the same question. Sheena blinked taken aback by the sudden question. She really had no idea herself, But she was still on her guard and it made her wary.

"How should I know Pirate! All I can tell is this is a ship and you and scummy clan have captured me. Maybe you should have though-" But the pirate just blinked and shook his head his face now scrunched up in confusion. "I just woke up, If you were captured I'd think my crew wouldn't leave me to sleep with the likes of you."

Sheena scowled not liking being shot down of her logic. The pirate then sheathed his blades and looked up at the hole in the ceiling. "Have you gone up there yet?" The pirate asked in a certain mannerism. Sheena now was curious by the question but her years of Mizuho training stopped her from immediately trusting the pirate, No matter how innocent the question was.

The pirate then took a few steps towards her. He glanced at her, His face revealing he would do no harm to her. Sheena let out a soft sigh of annoyance as she withdrew her spell cards back in to her clothing. She watched as the pirate stood directly under the hole as he jumped up and grabbed the edge of hole leading up to the surface.

He grunted lightly then looked down at Sheena. "Uhm... I wouldn't normally ask this to a Ninja but... Could you give me a push up..?" Sheena couldn't help but feeling like laughing at the question but she could see the seriousness in the question. She suddenly felt very awkard.

"Um.. Heh sure why not?" Sheena walked up to him where he hung and ducked under him, She placed her palms on the heels of his boots as she pushed him up. He scurried up to the surface as soon as she started pushing and Sheena could hear him gasp outloud.

"What is it Pirate?" She now felt worried as he looked down the hole at her. He then removed one of his blades from his belt and bent down towards the hole and reached it out towards her. "Grab on to the Sheath I'll pull you up.. Your going to have to see this for yourself..." He said shakily.

Sheena hesitated and then turned away. "I don't need your help getting out of holes." she exclaimed and she looked up at the hole. She readied herself making the leap up to the holes edge. Her right hand caught the edge and a sharp pain instantly shot at her shoulder.

Sheena winced and groaned in pain as her left hand instinctually grabbed the edge of the hole now and letting go with her right hand. Her arm then laid lazily at her side dangling in the air. She looked up to see the pirate grin lightly as he grabbed her left wrist pulling her up.

When Sheena reached to the top she fell on her knees and took a moment to catch her breathe. She then looked up at the pirate and blushed feeling embarrassed. Her pride was getting tarnished and the look on the pirates face told her he was enjoying it.

"You helped me up, so I helped you up." The pirate grinned casually shrugging when he saw the reaction on her face. "Besides, Me and you are in this mess together." His face now was mixed with concern and stress.

Sheena perked her head up looking from side to side at her new surroundings. She was correct that they were on a boat but the scale of it was smaller then she had assumed. It was just a regular house boat much like the ones that are popular in Izoold. The ship seemed to be only a meter wide and the ships length to be two from the bow to the cabin. The hole was new though and what Sheena could remember is that they were the cause of it from the fall off the pier.

Sheena then stood feeling her ankle start to shake as she put weight on it. Sheenas eyes grew wide at what she saw, Vast amounts of water it was endless. There was no end in sight, her stomach dropped and she all of the sudden felt sick. "This... is a nightmare..." She groaned as she took a few steps on the deck and fell to her knees.

The pirate sighed and sat down on the deck, his eyes were on her and she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. 'He's a pirate... But he looks so different from his kin..' Sheena got up and looked down at the pirate sitting. Her pride was beginning to fan the flames of hatred towards the pirate as she scowled at him.

"Well! This is just great look what you got us in to!" Sheena exclaimed at the pirate pointing a finger at him now. The pirate looked up at her in shock which quickly turned in to anger. "Me?! Your the one who tripped and pushed me along with you!!" The pirate jumped to his feet and rushed up to her.

His face was only inches away from hers, The two stared at each other both looking flustered and mad at the other. "I thought Ninjas were precise and graceful but I can see that's far from the truth you Klutz!" He yelled at her his eyes adjusting to that of a wolf biting at the throat of its enemy.

Sheena pushed the pirate back which caused him to stumble back a few steps. Her face was red with anger at being talked down to by a pirate and the only thought in her head was to attack him. "If you hadn't taking my package, this would have never happened!" she screamed her head feeling hot and heavy from the sun beating down on her.

The pirate looked shocked. "Your package? I was told to retrieve it because its pirate property, That you stole from us!" Sheenas eyes widen and she couldn't help but chuckle in other disbelief. Her eyes now laid at his belt which the package was securely tucked in.

"Do you pirates know anything..? Do you even know what's in there?" Sheena said her voice lowered now looking very tired from the exchange of words. The pirate looked at her, then down at the package curiously. He grabbed the top of the slender package and pulled it from his belt and tore open the wrapping.

Inside was twelve spell cards each with different pictures and symbols and colors. They looked similar to the cards that she uses. Sheena palm was hitting her forehead lightly at the pirates reaction. "Are you really this stupid? Did you have no Idea what was in the package was..." She sighed. "Of course not you pirates are all the same Thieves, Criminals, Womanizers, Idiots..."

The pirate looked down his hand holding the package lazily fell and tighten around the spell cards. "I am not any of those things.." He said his voice harsh and rising. His head then tilted up and his eyes were lowered looking at the ground, Sheena thought they looked to soft for a pirate and his reaction to her words threw her off 'He sure is lacking in arrogance' She thought to herself.

Sheena then spoke up. "Those cards are the twelve guadian seals used by the chief of Mizuho and as well for the ritual of appointing the next chief." She then shook her head at him as her voice rose of someone of great authority. "You stole them and now you and me are stuck in the middle of the ocean!"

Sheena looked at the pirate, her mind cluttered not knowing what to do in this situation. She shouldn't be arguing with him cause they were both stuck here and fighting would just lead to an all out fist fight of pride which would end badly. Her mission was still to get the guardian seals and return to Mizuho.

Sheena then noticed the pirate looking at her his eyes were gentle and her thoughts began to conflict. He spoke up now "This fighting really isn't getting us no where." He said speaking in voice that showed some authority. "You and me are both stuck on this ship and neither of us know where we are, Lets face it were lost."

The pirate took a few steps towards her and he looked awkward as he held up his hand to her. "I don't think either of us wants to battle and have the other die then be stuck on this ship alone.." He then took a deep breathe and blurted out what he was trying to say.

"So until we get out of this situation and reach land... I think it would be best for both are interests to work together.." His face was now red and she could tell this hurt his pride more then anything to work with a pirates natural enemy. Sheena looked stunned even by the suggestion, The roots of hatred were deep between the blood of pirates and ninjas alike, his suggestion was almost insanity.

But she couldn't help but agree with him she had no idea how to work a ship and he probably knew better then her. Even though she would have never suggest it her self for her pride would surely be shot down she was glad he could. The anguish in his face was priceless though for making the suggestion.

Sheena hesitantly put her hand out and closed it with his hand shaking it slowly, letting him know she agreed but pulled away from the handshake and quickly crossed her arms looking away showing her dislike for the alliance. He grinned softly at her dislike and added quickly "I'm Lloyd by the way..." Sheena quickly jumped in after hearing this. "Hey, I know were all the sudden working together but that doesn't mean I wanna be your friend, Remember after this I'm going to have to kill you."

Though Sheena didn't want to admit it she couldn't help feeling glad she knew his name. He now wasn't a complete stranger and it made it somewhat more of a relive to work with, But he was still a pirate and pirates can never be trusted. Lloyd brought his hands up giving a sly grin "Fair enough." He then turned his head towards the sun.

"The sun is starting to set it will soon be night time.." He said then looked at the boats cabin tilting his head suggestion to search it to her. Sheena nodded and Lloyd walked up to the door and opened it going inside. Sheena followed him limping slightly as she entered the room glancing around. There wasn't much but a desk, a chair, a bed and a few boxes.

Lloyd was searching through the boxes pulling many random things out. "Eh..? What are you looking for?" Sheena asked as Lloyd pulled out what looked to be a

spatula. "Food... Any kind of food... I feel like I haven't eaten in days." Lloyd said turning towards Sheena as he looked through another box. Sheena couldn't help but think of how much he resembled a child.

"Quick question?" Sheena said with some hesitation "Your a pirate and were on a boat... You know how to control this thing, Right?" Sheena really didn't know anything about boats and when Lloyd pulled out a small Med-kit he threw it at Sheena.

Her reflexes kicked in and her hands snatched it from the air. Lloyd was looking at her pointing at her wound that he had given her not to long ago. He then began to answer her question. "Well this is a house boat it's not really for sailing, There is no mast or steam powered engine not even an oar.."

His answer made Sheena groan in annoyance, It felt like there was no hope. Lloyd saw this and quickly added trying to perk her spirits up. "Although there is no mast while we were outside the wind was blowing north, And the wind has some control of the waves." He looked a bit awkward trying to explain it to her, making hand gestures that really didn't fit in with what he was saying.

"Assuming with been heading north this whole time from Luin, I'm pretty sure we will hit the continent of Palmacosta." Lloyd seemed to know what he was talking about even though Sheena already dubbed him an idiot, But she was glad someone had expertise on this. "What if the wind stops..?" She asked with as she opened the Med-Kit finding a few apple gels and applying it to the wound. It stung as she lightly spread it on her wound.

Lloyd could tell she had some doubt, he could read it all over her face. "I wouldn't worry too much.. the wind is always blowing even when it feels still, If there is anything you should worry about it should be a storm." Sheenas face resembled something like a worried mother.

After searching through the boxes Sheena watched as Lloyd sighed and rubbed his stomach. The light coming from the window of the cabin was slowly dimming as the sun was disappearing behind the blue ocean. Lloyd walked towards the door passing her along the way. He stopped and turned towards her. He looked towards her ankle then to her "If you would like.. You could rest your ankle for awhile on the bed.."

He looked sincere enough but Sheena mind thought she knew better. She closed her eyes and her lips tighten tilting her head away from him. "Humph! I can read it all over your face pirate, Trying to get the better on me while I sleep! well it won't work!" Lloyd only looked surprised and then he smiled.

"Heh well atleast I gave it a shot." He said jokingly then turned away walking out the door leaving Sheena alone in the cabin. She opened her right eye to look out the cabin door which was left open. 'He has to be the worst pirate ever.. Never heard of one being so polite... It's all pirate tricks.' Her heart didn't feel the same way though, She felt he was really being nice because it was who he is.

Sheena shook off the feeling, She had to remain on guard she couldn't let her mind slip of the important task at hand. She had to get those guardian seals back for the sake of the future of Mizuho. Him being nice wasn't winning any points with her cause he was a pirate and he had her seals, plain and simple.

Sheena took another apple gel and applied it to her ankle, The soothing feeling of the gel made it easier for her to walk on. She then took the bandages with and walked out the cabin door. She spotted Lloyd at the bow of the ship and walked up to him. She coughed trying to get his attention.

She held up her left hand, The bandages laid on her left palm as she looked up at him smiling softly. 'Even though I know he is being fake nice to me for the time being, I could atleast do the same.' Were her thoughts as Lloyd looked at her somewhat confused not taking the bandages right away she spoke up.

"Those bruises don't look so good on you.." She said smiling sheepishly feeling silly talking to the pirate in such a way. No one else was around and no one would know if she was nice to the pirate except her pride. "I know my handiwork." She said pointing at the bruises "They won't heal anytime soon. " She taunted.

He finally reached his hand out taking the bandages and rolling up a sheet wrapping it around his abdomen then crossing them over his shoulders to wrap up his chest. While Lloyd finished up bandaging himself, The sun was dying out with every passing minute and the stars were starting to bright up the night sky. 'This would be romantic with anyone else, Not a pirate' Was the thought that came to mind as she looked up at the stars. The moon was almost full but it shined in the black sky along with the stars.

She glanced towards Lloyd as she rested her arms on the boats wooden railing feeling the boat go up and down the with the rhythm of the waves. The wind was was blowing but gently and it her hair swayed somewhat when the wind hit her. Lloyd looked as if he was squinting, He put his hands up to his face and used them like binoculars.

Sheenas first thought was was how stupid he looked but after a moment she could tell he was looking out at something. "Do you seem something?" She asked Lloyd curiously as her head tilted. Lloyd turned to her his hands still shaped like goggles and blink. "I think I see land.."

Sheena pushed her self off the wooden rail and her hands gripped the railing now staring out in to the ocean. She couldn't see it at first but after squinting for a few moments she could make out a shadowy mountain like island. "It looks like were heading right towards it." Lloyd exclaimed excitedly. "It sure does.." Sheena said softly but then added. "But we don't want an Island we want land."

Lloyd quickly jumped in to answer her question. "Yeah your right, But judging by that were heading for the Palmacosta continent that Island must be Thonda Geyser." Sheena looked turned her head at Lloyd blinking not sure what he was getting at. "And? So what does that mean?"

Lloyd turned to her as well grinning. "It means there are most likely people there with real boats instead of house boats, We could probably hitch a ride with them." Sheena now understood and grinned, The small house boat was making it's way towards the shadowy island and to her it meant the nightmare was almost over and she could go about with her mission of retrieving the guardian seals from Lloyd.

'It's only a matter of time Lloyd before I claim what is rightful mine, This alliance won't last long and if you don't hand them over to me after are journey. your going to have to die.'

AWESOME! So Here is Chapter 3 finally I said it would be up on Wensday but there I go lying again Lol. It's all good cause it means I am putting out more chapters earlier.

Also just to let everyone know I don't think I'm doing justice with this story cause it seems super Vague I bet to a lot of you. xD

So I decided to upload a short little Prologue that should explain some things in it's own way and where this story might be going.

This Chapter is definitely filler and how Lloyd and Sheena come to terms with the situation(Lol Kind of?)

But I like it it's definitally a little longer and in some of the review they wanted me to space out paragraphs more so I did and I think it worked well. I also did it with the other chapter so they don't all look messy.

This Chapter didn't have much action to it so Ima going to apologize for that but I will say Chapter 4 will be filled with Action pack battles so just hold on!

Anyway Review please I really do appreciate it whether it's positive or negative I like to hear from you guys.