Captured!: Chapter 4
-:-
Takeru whistled a happy song to himself as he diligently scrubbed away at a particularly stained pair of trousers, seemingly upbeat despite the menial labors. He had offered Daisuke to help with the laundry batches.
It was his companion's final day of punishment and the blonde decided things would go much faster if he gave an extra hand. As he soaked a filthy set of servant robes, Takeru allowed his mind to wander curiously to itself.
He found himself grinning slightly, recalling how wonderful the week had been what with his frequent night visits to a certain imprisoned girl. It was just now that he realized why Yamato was so adamant about bringing so many of them on the boat.
Though not a single one of them (and they were plenty) could even fathom a dwindling iota of comparison to Hikari.
He shivered slightly as her name skidded about his mind, causing this unexplainable urge to smile so big it made his face hurt. She was so sweet, so good despite her current situation and he was surprised to find himself only further intrigued by each night.
They talked about absolutely everything, almost to the point where he briefly thought they might run out of things to discuss at all. But it never did happen because with her, he could bring himself to say whatever it was that came up upon his mind.
He didn't have to worry about being the Captain's son and all those silly, ridiculous, stupid obligations that came with it. He didn't have to wear this with that and watch what he said or did or how he even breathed because he was the Captain's son and he had a certain protocol and image to maintain.
No. He was Takeru Ishida and Hikari seemed more than satisfied with just that.
"If you keep on rubbing at it like that T.K., you're going to make a hole into the trousers."
The nineteen-year-old felt his entire body wrench up at the teasing remark, his wide blue eyes blinking slightly and glancing about bewilderedly his person. He was surprised to find the rest of the soiled clothing cleaned and hung about outside for drying.
The elder male at his side was sitting on a near-by chair, absently gnawing at a strip of salted meat.
"You finished?" Daisuke rolled his eyes a little, finishing the rest of his snack before hopping up to his feet.
"Yes because if I waited for you to finish your batch, we'd be here for the next century."
Takeru scowled slightly, the cynicism not missed as he gruffly latched the impeccably clean pair of slacks onto the drying hooks. By the time that had finished, he turned to find his companion already gone from the cleaning cabins and out on deck.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, Dai?" The blonde called out as he managed his way up the stairs, nearly tripping over his own feet in the haste motion.
"To savor all liberties I haven't experienced in the past week!" Was the other boy's reply.
The two boys quickly hurried along the pathways of the large ship, laughing loudly as they exchanged a few playful swipes at each other along the way. They continued their riotous gaiety until a tall willowy male came sauntering out before them, causing both to come to a skidding halt.
"Yamato!" Takeru snapped somewhat irritably as his hair was ruffled out of place by the older Ishida.
"Nice to see you too, T.K." He responded with a faint sneer, relishing his daunting status as older brother. He looked over and gave Daisuke a nod of acknowledgement, which the brunette imitated in return.
"I just to came to tell you about the news."
That captured the attentions of the younger males well enough, exchanging a glance of uncertainty before turning back to the taller blonde.
"We will be having some visitors tonight. So make sure you're outfitted in proper attire, younger brother."
Takeru felt disappointment settle over him as the realization that he wouldn't be able to see Hikari tonight loomed his mind. That, and he had to wear those ridiculous outfits again.
"You here that, T.K.? It's a party tonight!" The brunette exclaimed excitedly from his side, throwing his arm over the taller male's shoulder.
"Aren't you excited?"
The blonde had to swallow heavily, forcing a half grin onto his face.
"Course Dai."
-:-
It was sometime later when they came to dock somewhere in Osaka, half to give rest to the crew and otherwise to allow the visitors to board for the night. Captain Ishida had some of his old shipmates coming tonight, almost as if a reunion to see how things had gone. They were visiting from some place called France or whatever, not that Takeru cared.
The youngest son was slouched off in one of the corner tables, absently sipping at his cup of soured mulberry juice. He was out in out miserable and uncomfortable beyond belief; in those old ridiculous outfits his father always had him in whenever they had to maintain appearances.
A long-sleeved white tunic encased his upper half, tucked neatly into a pair of dark forest green breeches. A wide brown sash cinched his around his slacks to keep them snugly in place. A vest of the same color and lawn as the breeches was fitted over the tunic top, fastened tight over his broad, muscled physique.
It was a nice outfit, sure, but it was so goddamned old and he felt as if his grandfather would wear this kind of monstrosity. Not to mention, the entire outfit was so tight, even now he was fidgeting around the brown leather boots that covered his feet.
He stopped his little fidgeting, however when he saw his father nearing him with a gaggle of people around him. One was exceptionally tall, at least a foot or so taller then his father with a head of perfectly groomed lemony blond hair topping his slightly muscular frame. He wore long robes made of silk, colored in deep navy blue and fine gold trimming.
"And this is my youngest brood," Hiroaki announced as he strolled by with another male in tow, motioning to the boy in question.
"Takeru. This is Captain Fournier."
T.K. straightened and smoothed out his clothes rising to his feet, albeit clumsily so as he inadvertently knocked the mug over in the process. He winced slightly as he saw his fathers disapproving visage through his peripherals but forced a welcoming smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Captain."
The man stared back at him with hazy silver eyes, cold and almost judging. They rolled over his frame thoroughly, before a surprisingly warm smile spread his lips.
"Nice to meet you, Takeru." His voice was deep and strong, rumbling out of his chest like a roar from a lion. He let out a heart laugh, patting the young boy at his back exceptionally hard.
"You gonna be a Ship Lead like ye old father?"
Like I have a choice
"I hope to be as good as he, Sir." That elicited another laugh from the foreign Captain, leaning over and saying something in his home tongue to his shipmates. They laughed in response and he wondered briefly if he should feel honored or insulted.
"He looks a lot like Nancy." Fournier commented off-handedly over his shoulder and the Oriental Captain visibly winced at the remark, though masked it quickly. He normally calm and collected demeanor faltered even for just a moment, to reveal how especially sad he was at the loss of his beloved, all these years later.
He had actually met Nancy while shipping with Fournier back then. They were gonna take leave in Fournier's hometown of Beauvias for a month or so. Then, one morning, they met this cute blonde waitress at a local pastry shop and she had the prettiest blue eyes ever.
Still does…well, did.
"Yeah." He murmured so low; it almost seemed as if it were to himself.
"He does."
Takeru held his breath as his father and his companions slowly made their way past him, maintaining the salutatory smile plastered across his face. Then he could go back to drinking and being absolutely miserable.
Except one of them, lagged behind, in fact, came to an abrupt stop right in front of him.
She was a tiny slip of a girl, with pale cream white skin and a pair of azure blue eyes, akin to the night sky. Her hair was long and thick, falling down in golden curls to her tiny waist.
She smiled sweetly enough, extending her hand out for what he assumed to be a salutatory shake.
"Bonjour Monsieur Takeru," She purred and her voice deep and laced with a delicately sweet French accent. While her demeanor was gentle, there was something dangerous banking her eyes, almost like fire.
"My name is Catherine, I'm Captain Fournier's daughter."
The boy smiled and shook her hand but was met with a highly perplexed face, her brown furrowing. Had he done something wrong? Do they not shake hands in France or wherever she was from? Catherine dismissed it though, suddenly leaning forward so close that her cheek rested against his.
"I've got to go before my father worries but, I'll be spending the night here. Maybe you can keep me company."
The blonde vixen stepped back and winked just once, before she scurried off to catch up with her father. Takeru felt his face burn at the girl's forwardness and the undeniable suggestion her words intended.
"Sheemsh like the Capt`ansh daughter hash got her eyesh on shjoo."
The nineteen-year-old scowled as he turned, glancing up to see his older brother standing above him. He was outfitted in the same attire, though save for everything green in his outfit was a deep navy blue shade. He took a deep swig of his mug, rather sloppily so, that the liquid spilled out from his lips and onto the floor.
"You've had too much, brother." He chastened quietly, reaching up and swiftly swiping the mug from his hold. Admittedly, his brother was a horrible drunk and he had the strangest tendencies to get all emotional while in such a state.
He recalled last month when he had gotten particularly inebriated and he had broken down about some girl he had brought on boat who left him the night after. He half cried, half raged before he collapsed into the dining tables and broken half of them.
Needless to say, Captain wasn't pleased one bit.
"I..I dunno whatjoo talking aboutsh," Yamato slurred helplessly, collapsing in the space next to the younger male. He suddenly reached over and looped an arm around his sibling, drawing him close.
"I'm shorry T.J., I'm shorry I'm sucha bad brosher."
At that Takeru sighed, nodding as allowed his brother to drone on endlessly. He knew his brother meant well and only tried so hard to be the perfect Captain's son so that way he, Takeru, wouldn't have such a burden. Naturally, he had to forgo his brotherly duties from time to time for his leadership ones.
But he knew why Yamato did it, so he understood just fine.
"It's okay Yama, you're a great brother."
The drunken male blinked a little before glancing up, managing a wide unabashed grin.
"Joo too, T.J., joo too."
-:-
It was late now, sometime in the wee hours of the morning and the crew had succumbed to a deep state of sleep, mostly in thanks to the endless amount of grog and gin they had consumed in the past 5 or so hours.
Even Daisuke was out like a brick, curled up in some fetal position near the kitchen quarters. Unfortunately, however, Takeru was never a drinker and often opted for mulberry juice as opposed to anything alcoholic.
And when the night guards had passed out next to Takeru, he had fashioned a positively evil plan in his mind. It was as if the Gods had laid out the golden plan just beneath his nose and how was he supposed to deny it?
With devious intent, he carefully reached over and plucked the dungeon keys from the slumbering sentinels. He had also made a note to snatch some of the pastries and cheese blocks from the kitchen before he headed down.
If its one thing she missed, she always said, it was those pastries her brother used to get her when he'd come back from town. These probably weren't the same, but it was the best he could do.
For some unexplainable reason, he was incredibly nervous. Antsy, uncomfortable, stuffy and he really wished that he had thought of changing before he had went down because now she'd see him in this stupid outfit.
When he had reached the lower levels to the brig of the ship, he actually had to stop and remember to breathe. Like actually, breathe.
He couldn't understand it because, he had seen her everyday and now, now he felt like it was the first time all over again, sneaking down and all. And it didn't make sense, now, since everyone (literally, EVERYONE) was passed out on ship and he didn't have to worry the slightest bit about being discovered.
The golden-topped male swallowed forcibly so, the keys clenched tightly in his fists so much that he was positive there was an imprint in his palm. Even after his little pep talk to himself a few minutes ago, when the familiar cage came into view, he forgot to breath all over again.
"Kari?" He called out softly, gently as he neared the confinements. He saw the faint outline of dusty yellow in the darkness, sprawled out on the floor with his blanket entwined around her tiny frame.
She shifted finally, somewhat groggily as she wrenched up into a sitting position of sorts. She rubbed her eyes a bit, to rid the remnants of sleep from her eyes before her vision finally cleared.
"T.K.!" She exclaimed but winced at how loud her voice was.
"Sorry I'm late Kari." He murmured, awkwardly sitting down cross-legged onto the floor. He carefully hid the knapsack of foods and the key behind him, for it was supposed to be a nice surprise.
"Captain had company and had this big welcoming party and I had to attend.."
The blond trailed as he saw the strained expression on her face, a dainty hand curled up around her mouth poorly attempting to hide the big old smile across her face. It took him a moment before he realized what she was smiling about, groaning inwardly and rolling his eyes heavenward.
"And he had me wear this thing." He finished, tugging at the lapels of his attire for emphasis. She chuckled and nodded sympathetically, nervously smoothing out her hair so she didn't look like she had just woken up.
"It's okay. I figured you just had something else to do." She paused, yawning but quickly swatted it away, as Takeru gave her an apologetic face for waking her.
"You seem so bothered; you could take off your vest." The brunette offered, gesturing towards the constricting article of clothing. He smiled appreciatively, quickly unfastening the leather garment and tossing it aside. He also undid the brown sash around his waist, releasing a sigh of relief at the sudden relieving of pressure around his abdomen.
The two teenagers sat in companionable silence for a moment, savoring each others presence and carefully stealing glances at each other from time to time. Hikari felt her interest pricked, however, when she caught sight of a brown bag partially hidden behind her companion.
"What's that?" She questioned with a fine brow quirked, pointing directly to the said object for specification. Takeru blinked, almost forgetting what he had brought and mentally slapped himself for his forgetfulness.
"I can't believe I forgot." He mumbled as he reached behind him and brought the sack in front of him for her to see. He began fiddling with the ties that held the bag together, struggling with a particular knot.
"I brought a surprise for you."
The terry fabric gave way to reveal a stack of sweet pastries. Some were mulberry tarts and others butter cookies, with a giant wedge of cheese situated next. She felt her face warm at the gesture, her belly doing cartwheels in her insides.
"Takeru…" Her voice was soft, barely a whisper, and she fought stoutly the sudden urge to cry. It really was only a couple of tarts and sweets and for the most part, no reason to cry but...it reminded her so much of home.
Of Taichi.
He quickly urged her to eat some, half because she wanted her to try it and mostly because he didn't know what he'd do if she started crying.
Soon enough the two fell into their deep conversation as they always did, absently nibbling at the snacks the Captain's son had so generously brought. He told her about the visitors and Catherine (Hikari was strangely silent on the matter, though she quickly changed topic when she could.) And Hikari almost squealed with joy when she discovered that everyone was out cold and that they could talk especially longer this time, without having to worry.
Not that she liked spending time with him, or anything like that, it was just because she just wanted someone to talk to, is all.
Just someone to talk to, she reasoned to herself.
"You know what I really miss?" The girl remarked casually as she finished up her third butter cookie, leaning against the bars as she stared up at the dark metal ceiling before her. Takeru quietly waited for her to finish, his own back to hers against the bars, trying to quell the burning where his shoulders touched hers through the openings of the bars.
"A shower."
He laughed whole-heartedly at that, she soon joining in the gaiety. It was nice, now, they didn't have to keep their laughter all hushed and restraint and constricted, they could freely laugh and do as they pleased. The blonde eventually quieted down, still smiling silly as he absently reached back for another cookie. He froze, however, when he heard sniffling behind him.
Was she...crying...?
"Kari..?" He started tentatively, his shoulders arched and tensed as he began the slow movement of turning around. She quickly brought a hand up to her face to wipe the moisture on the back of her hand.
His belly bottomed out. She WAS crying.
"Oh Kari, please don't cry." He pleaded desperately, perched on his knees and clinging to the bars that hindered him from her so. She kept her back turned to him, not wanting to show how weak and feeble she was.
She had promised mama she'd make her proud and be strong, because Taichi couldn't afford to see her hurt too.
It was something in his tone, so sweet and tender, that just made her cry even more, having opened the flood gates to the past weeks of being cooped up in some cage like a wild animal. She tried her best to cease the tears, biting down on her lip particularly hard to stop the sobbing from rolling out of her.
Oh god oh god, what was he supposed to do? He'd never dealt with crying. Ever. Aside from Yamato's drunken spirals into depression but that didn't really count. He'd never seen a girl cry before, let alone be with them as it was occurring. Was he supposed to go? Yamato always said girls liked to be alone in times like this.
But then again, all the girls Yamato had always ran off the ship all shades of angry so maybe he wasn't the best to depend on.
He remembered what Daisuke told him. Back when Dai's mum was alive, whenever she'd cry his dad would hold her and wait till she stopped.
But he couldn't go and exactly hold her, currently. Seriously, there were bars in the way. Heavy, thick, metal bars.
"I-it's so-so mis-s-serable Takeru!" She cried into her palms, having stopped trying to contain her hysterics.
"I can't even take a damned shower!"
She was somewhere between angry and upset and Takeru didn't know what to do. He raked a trembling hand through his hair, mind frenzied as he tried to find out what to do. His other hand shoved its way into his pockets, when he felt something cold and hard at his finger tips. And like that, it clicked, realization settling his eyes. He swallowed heavily, quickly clutching the object and pulling it out.
"I'm gonna get you that shower, Kari." He declared, though it came out more scared and uncertain than the assertive command he had intended. The positively down-trodden girl blinked, turning about at his sudden remark. Something in his chest squeezed particularly hard when he saw her tear streaked face, eyes puffy and red.
"Wha-"
She gasped, suddenly, as he moved over to the chains and padlock surrounding her metal prison and shoved a key into the keyhole. He was shaking, quite visibly, as the chains rattled under his hold and the key constantly slipping in and out of his sweaty palms. Then, a click and the padlock fell to the ground in a loud, reverberating clatter.
The old, rusted hinges creaked and cried out as it slowly wafted the door open and Hikari could only sit dumbfounded on the floor, mouth gapping ajar as Takeru stood in its doorway, hand extended out like a beacon of light.
Like a Knight rescuing a Princess.
-:-
Alright, I know. It's been soooo long. I'm bad, you hate me, and I understand wholeheartedly if you do Not want to review...
BUT PLEASE REVIEW T-T
I is sowwy for not updating in foreberz and if you could find it in your big ole hearts to forgive me . Please review!
Love you all!
