Ni hao! ...I swear it's a different greeting for each chapter. The good thing is, I probably won't run out because there are many different greetings in this world! Sorry about the long wait for me to update but hey, don't say I didn't warn you!

Today's chapter is one of my favourites. Why? Well you'll find out when we get to the harbour. By the way, I made the setting a harbour for a very particular reason. If you're not sure, have a look at what I said in the first chapter.

And now, some foreshadowing! Tanoshimu!

Chapter 3: Attack on the harbour

Changing one boy's opinion forever

?

"I must say. This is a very nice thing you've done for all of us."

"Please, it's my pleasure. Putting a smile on everyone's face really makes me happy."

"Well that's very nice of you."

"By the way have you seen..."

The man's voice trailed off as he entered his sentence and covered his mouth with a cough. His companion could tell that the conversation was getting to be a bit awkward. Reading the atmosphere always was his strong point.

"Well, you know. After all, who doesn't?" The now nervous man chuckled.

"I haven't heard from him for about two hours. I will go and see what he's doing." The other said reassuringly.

"Thanks."

"Were you worried?"

"About him? Of course not! I mean why would I be? I wouldn't, so there you have it!"

"I see. I suppose I shall go see him now. By the way, your face is very red."

Stating that it was red only made it redder, something that brought the slightest hint of a smile to the quieter man's face. His friend was always a little contradictory about his feelings: never saying what he truly felt inside and only throwing out angry retorts from his exterior. Perhaps it would be better for him to say what he truly felt. Then again his friend wasn't one to impose like that, and it was much more exciting to watch things unfold like the plot of a very angst-filled story.

The man's quiet friend finally reached the room he was searching for. It was labelled with the number '2' in black lettering against a golden shimmery backdrop. He knocked on this door a few times before going against his polite instincts and slowly opening the door as he peered inside.

"A-"

Captain Arthur Kirkland's ship...

"Zere! All done!" Francis declared.

It was as the Frenchman (or Frog) had said. Arthur's wound had been pretty much fixed, leaving only a white bandage, stained slightly by the red tinge of blood. The Captain sighed, glad that it was finally over and that the blond Frenchman would finally leave. But he didn't leave, he just gave Arthur that funny, suggestive look that the Captain was so familiar with.

"Well, need any 'elp getting ready for bed?" Francis chuckled.

"Goodnight Frog."Arthur sighed.

"Per'aps you need assistance removing your clothes? I'll be 'appy to 'elp with zat..." Francis suggested.

"Goodnight means beat it, pervert." Arthur muttered, raising his voice a little towards the end.

"Or maybe you need a bed partner, in case you're too scared to get to sleep?" Francis smirked.

"I SAID GOODNIGHT FRANCIS!" Arthur yelled.

Then Arthur threw the Frog out of his room with such violent force but Francis just continued to laugh loudly in his special way of 'ohonhonhonhon'. The door slammed shut behind him and Francis leaned back against it with a sigh. Sure he was playfully jesting about some of the things he said, but most of it was the truth.

It was pretty obvious that Francis honestly liked Arthur. And that was impressive for Francis to genuinely like someone.

"Ah Arthur... You're so cute when you try to be all assertive. Really if you don't become mine, I may even 'ave to take extreme measures." Francis sighed.

Then he walked off to his own room, spacing out completely as he pictured Arthur's cute flustered face once more. The things that face made him want to do... It made Arthur's cuteness almost criminal, to Francis at least. The Frenchman could be very forceful if he wanted to, but at heart he was a passionate lover. He wanted Arthur to love him genuinely. Not for it to be forced. Surely in time, he'd be able to win him over.

At least, that was what he hoped.

In the harbour...

"Excuse me."

No-one listened. After all it was just some dirty blond-haired kid addressing them. Okay he may have been a little older than just a 'kid' but that was often how people regarded him. He was a kid- a messy, scruffy little kid. And in truth, that was how he acted. But would anyone ever know that? No, because everyone was treated on appearance, not personality. Honestly, sometimes that made the young man wish he was living somewhere else.

"Hey my name is-"

Who wanted to know his name? No-one of course. Did they have any concern with what his business was? Of course they didn't. He was a zero, a nothing, a nobody.

But he didn't allow himself to be discouraged. Instead he walked through the market stalls stationed in the busy harbour. He had always been like that: a bright and upbeat sort of guy- always cheerful, never sad. Hopefully that attitude would take him far, and save him from what was about to happen.

"Well he hasn't found me yet." He muttered.

But just as the man said it, he twitched slightly and swiftly jumped out of harm's way. Standing behind him was a brown haired petite man with brown, determined eyes and hair tied back into a loose ponytail. In his hand was a wok which he had just threateningly tried to hit the other man with.

"Perhaps I spoke too soon?" The first man questioned with a grunt of annoyance.

"Yeah. You did." His attacker growled.

The second man didn't let this get to him. In fact he smiled a little. People had often complained how he never smiled, but he did. Just when he was being sly or sneaky. A breeze flowed through the area, gently swaying his jet black tidy hair. His neutral brown eyes stared into the other brown ones, piercing his attacker's confidence slightly.

"Well then. Rets settle this in the usual way." He mumbled.

"Ai ya." His attacker agreed.

The black haired man removed his sharp sword, more formally known as a katana and the other tightened the grip on his makeshift weapon. A short bow came from each of the men and without warning, the fight broke out. The wok came into contact with the katana, making a loud noise as it did and many more after that.

"Erm... Anyone?"

The blue eyed boy continued to search for someone willing to take him on. Anyone would do. He just needed someone willing to let him on their ship. Maybe as a cabin boy to start with, then he could work his way up. He just desperately wanted to get on any ship that would sail him away...

And help him be a hero.

CRASH!

His head snapped back to see a pair of men, one with long brown hair and one with short black hair, fighting viciously and showing no sign of ending. Then on cue, the crowd of people dispersed and the merchants ducked under their stalls. But the aspiring hero didn't duck. No... He did pretty much the opposite: he ran towards the pair, intending to stop them.

"Whoa you two! Settle down will ya?"

The weapons collided again and both began to push with incredible force as they both stared into each other's eyes with such anger and rage that they became extremely scary. The one trying to stop their fight wasn't scared though- in fact he looked completely unaffected.

"No! I won't stop! This man is planning to destroy the harbour, and I can't allow him to do that!" The brown-haired man panted.

"This is none of your business Yao, so stay out!" The man with the katana snapped.

Then the black-haired man began to viciously lash out at the one known as Yao. Yao went for him too, but eventually Kiku made a large gash in his arm. The heroic onlooker gasped slightly but the attacker didn't stop there. He was absolutely determined to maliciously harm and possibly kill the man responsible for getting in the way and delaying his plans.

Being a good dodger, Yao avoided every attack thrown at him. Of course he couldn't dodge forever, but he could sure keep it up for a pretty long time. He kept smoothly avoiding attacks until the ferocious attacker got caught in the planks of the pier. Yao held his arm and smirked but his opponent obviously wasn't going to stand for it. So, summoning all of his strength, he pulled the sword out and began viciously swiping once more.

Then, Yao fell back onto his bottom and dropped his wok clumsily. He had been bested, by him no less. Clutching his arm, he glared up at the victor in anger.

"Go ahead Kiku. Finish me off." Yao hissed.

A smile crept across Kiku's face. A smile of victory, knowing that he had finally bested Yao. This is what everything had been leading up to, all the practise and training, all the hopes and frustrated dreams. So, lifting his sword, he prepared himself to deal the final blow to Yao, excitement filling him as he brought down the sword.

CLINK!

Kiku widened his eyes and stepped back in shock. Standing in front of him was the man (or kid) with dirty blond hair, fierce blue eyes and an overall look that could only be described as... Scruffy...

"I don't know what's going on." He declared. "But if you intend to hurt this guy then you'll have to go through me."

"Nani? Why would you do that? You don't even know him. Who are you?"

"Isn't it obvious?" The defender smirked. "I'm... The hero!"

Kiku's shock was only momentary. In the next instant he began slashing at his enemy once more, face determined and grip tight on his trusty blade. Crowds of people parted as the battle raged on, showing no sign of stopping. However, Kiku had a bit more of an upper hand being the slightly more trained and able swordsman and so his opponent had a little trouble keeping up.

Then the 'kid' fell back into a stall, which thankfully no merchant was hiding under. As he got up, he noticed that there were several splattered remains of what looked like apples on his back and a tattered black hat upon his head. But since he was engaged in a harsh raging battle, he had no time to fix that- only to carry on blocking and swiping at his bloodthirsty attacker.

"AHH! A pirate!"

He had no idea who had made the cry, but still he stopped. As did Kiku surprisingly. The newly appointed swordsman looked around curiously.

"Pirate? Where?"

"There!"

Then he noticed that several arms were outstretched and fingers were pointing at him. He looked down at himself, gradually realising where the pirate suspicion had come from. He was wearing the slightly shredded remains of what looked like a captain's coat and on top of his head was a black hat adorned with several feathers. But to top it all off, the sword he had randomly picked up to defend Yao with was a cutlass: most well known for its affiliation with pirates.

"Oh haha, guess it kinda looks like I'm a pirate, huh?" He laughed sheepishly.

The eyes of his duelling opponent opened wide. "And you're okay with that?"

"Guess so."

"I thought you were a hero?"

"Can't I be both?"

"No. Pirates are never heroes. Pirates are evil and maricious. Definitery the opposite of a hero. You should rearry know that. But I suppose you're just a child. How regrettable."

"Th-they think I'm a villain?"

So they think America's a villain! How will America feel about real pirates now? What happened to China? Who will triumph: Captain Ludwig or Captain Arthur? Find out next time! Leave reviews and add this story to your alerts or favourites if you like it! Next time be prepared for suspense, surprises and... Maple... Leaves?

Thanks to Oniongrass, ShadowEntity and Not a Mike for reviewing!

Sayonara minna-san!

~Neko