hey minna! we're back with another chapter! let's head right to the reviews!
Mighty TAB X- thank you. I'm glad you and everyone else seems to like where is going and that it shows potential. i had so much fun writing the interrogation part. we have to admit, it was probably the best part of the chapter. it was serious but not serious at the same time. which is what i was aiming for. i hope you continue to read and enjoy.
Tobi- thank you for getting a chance to read the chapter. you still don't know what Kent looks like? i wonder why?
Levi: because you haven't describe him at all!
i wonder why that is?
Levi: because your being lazy
Kyousuke: trying to keep the word count down a little for the betas?
Kent: i have no idea.
Eren: to keep Kent a mystery for future explanations!
yeah, what Eren said.
Levi *rolls eyes as he doesn't believe me*: aha
anyway, moving on. i did try to fix most of the hiccups. we will keep what Kent looks like a secret for now because plot! what Kent looks like and what clothes he wears will be relieved soon, i promise. But yes, Kent is just as precious as Eren is, though, i don't know how people are really going to feel or think about Kent about this chapter... no spoils on why. we should give the man a hug and box of chocolates!
Kent: i don't need a hug, though, the chocolates do sound good.
Eren: yeah! it's my job to hug people!
Kyousuke: oh, thank you Tobi for saying that you trash like me. but dude, really, you shouldn't like me. i am nothing but trash.
yeah, someone does need to get their hands dirty and Kyousuke is just the man for the job! he is always prepared to get his hands dirty, it's in his nature because of plot reasons. i know description is something that gets better with practice, but i normally, sometimes, go a little overboard and i am seriously keeping Kent's description a secret for plot reasons right now. so please be patience, we will know what he looks like soon. thank you for saying the chapter was pretty awesome. I think we're happy that Levi managed to somehow make a friend all on his own
Levi: hey!
and that Eren had another one waiting for one too. i think we all can't wait to see Levi kick their sorry asses. i think Seamstress/model and dessert chef is cool and not much but you think it is and just want to make her a pastry/dessert chef that's fine with me. i can leave the seamstress stuff to our jack of all trades. i don't know if i will be able to handle 20 in the crew, i still have no idea how i am going to tie in all 19 yet. but i'm working on it without trying to introduced too many at once.
ZodiacQueen27- thank you. yes, Eren is a cutie pie. an demolition expert you say? hmm... i believe our jack of all trades and another crew member have that covered, but thank you for the suggestion. explosions are very nice. thank you for reviewing. please do so again.
Olien- thank you. i think we all want to cuddle Eren and tell him that everything will be okay and that Levi will be come for him real soon. Levi is going to kick their bastardy asses. i know, my hands are full with 19 crewmates, hopefully i can pull this off. thank you for having confidence that i can do it. i will give do my best to give them appropriate amount of screen time. i think a few people can't wait to see who Levi's rivals are. though, i think we will be meeting a few bad guys before we meet some of the rivals- marine, pirates or otherwise. yes, Kent is a fishman, well half fishman. yes, Kent's character does seem like a good match with Eren. and thanks for pointing out the thing that was wrong with dialogue, i was not intentional. it was just something overlooked by me and my beta.
Levi *cuddling Eren*: only i can cuddle my little brother!
The Gaming Geek Gina- thank you. hopefully i can handle this character pool. if not... well, i will have to cut people. but i'm sure i can handle the character pool, they're all such interesting characters after all.
Supreme Kai of Writing- yes, a crew of 19. it will take some time and effect to work out how to balance everything and give them all appropriate amount of screen time. hopeful i can handle it. yes, adorable little Eren is capable of giving people 'mind bumbing headaches'. Yes, i think the guy might end regretting trying to steal Eren from Levi, i don't want to be him. Though, one has to wonder who he is XD? thank you. i will try to finish the next chapter as fast i can.
TheGgaming- thank you. it revealed a lot but still left questions unanswered at the same time. i guess Kyousuke is a little like a Robin character- dark, cunning, mysterious and an assassin. i can't wait to continue writing.
theotakureader101- yes, the scumbag side of Kyousuke does finally come out. thank you for liking the scene and i'm glad i am doing your character justice. i will keep trying my hardest to keep doing that. yes, Levi and Kyousuke are friends and he can be a little tsun-tsun can't he?
Kyousuke: Levi is the most amusing thing i have to mess with right now and i'm sure i will get more amusing people to mess with if i stay with him as well.
yes, Kent's a merman/merfolk/fishman. it was nice to get a glimpse of what Kent has had to deal with and there will be to come! thank you. i'm excited to write the next one and can't wait to share it with you all.
Harukawa Ayame- yes another long chapter. honestly, i don't know how you thought Kyousuke was nice and polite either.
Kyousuke: hey, i'm not that bad. i mean, sure, i'm manipulative but i don't think i'm cold. though, bastard does cover trash like me well. and don't worry, i won't kill you. for now.
Eren: Kent is nice!
Levi *hugging onto Eren for dear life*: you can't have my brother! he's mine! and don't call him pipsqueak! *taking great offence to it since he is short and he knows that Eren will one day be taller than him*
yes, Kent is a nice person and it always seems to be the nice people who get treated badly by others. Eren is adorable and his adorableness will never disappear. i agree. he is such a smart boy. no, i can't let you take Eren home. Levi will hunt down and murder us both in our sleep. even if you can feed him and give him a warm bed and everything. when did Eren learn French? keep reading you might one day find out. i think we all can't wait to see Levi save his little brat. i'm looking forward to their adorable moment together too. will the mysterious butler man and Levi fight for Eren later? maybe, keep reading to fix out.
Kyousuke: of course i am Levi's friend. i'm helping him save his brother aren't I?
i can't believe that the crew is that big already too. the crew arcs are going to be a long way to go? well... yeah, they're going to be long and stuff. and yes, we have found a babysitter for Eren. yay! thank you and thank you. i believe i need the good luck with writing. so much to do and plan and write and so little time.
Levi: anyway, on with the chapter. as usual, fireandicephoenix doesn't own One Piece or it's characters but does own this storyline and many of the characters in this story. thank you betas for your help with the chapter.
Eren: all characters belong to their respected owners. enjoy the story minna!
Chapter 3: First Mates Part 3
"You know we need a plan, right?"
"Yeah and I have one."
"Oh really? What is it?"
"Go in there and kill every single one of those assholes."
"How are we going to find your brother using that plan? We're going to need at least one of them alive to tell us where he is you know."
"I don't need them to find my brother. We're close enough now that I can communicate with him and we can find him that way."
"Communicate with him? As in ESP or something?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
"He ate a devil fruit, didn't he?"
"Yep."
Kyousuke sighed shaking his head. Levi was being a little too honest and up front with all this. The guy needed to be more careful with whom he shared information with. "Okay, so you're telling me that the plan is to go into a building we know little about and kill anyone we run into? All the while you and your brother talk to each other in your minds? That's the whole plan?"
"Is there something wrong with my plan?" the pirate captain asked the swordsman. It was his turn to do things HIS way. They did things the swordsman's way when getting the information and stuff, now they were doing things the pirate's way.
"A few things, yes."
"Like what?"
"Like killing everyone in there for a start. What if there are innocent people inside that have nothing to with the thugs and are being held against their will?"
"… I wasn't going to kill them."
The swordsman looked at the pirate seriously. "If I didn't just remind you of that little fact, can you really say, with certainty, that you wouldn't have killed innocent bystanders and hostages?"
"…"
"My point exactly. We need a better plan, Captain."
"I still think my plan is the easiest way. We did it your way last time, so we should do it my way this time."
"I'm not saying we don't do things your way."
"Then what are you saying?"
"All I'm saying is we need to fine-tune your plan. You know, maybe just critically injure anyone who tries to stop us and free anyone who is asking us for help. We don't have to kill."
"But they took what is mine."
"Yeah and you should hurt them for it. But killing them over kidnapping your brother is a little over the top, isn't it?"
"No. It's worked in the past so it will work this time as well."
Kyousuke sighed. Was there no getting through this thick-skulled, stubborn pirate?
"How about this then," Kyousuke smiled as he thought of something. "Only kill anyone trying to kill to you and just seriously hurt the bad guys while leaving the poor innocents alone, hmm? I know killing gets one message across but so does critically injuring people. Think of it like you're giving them a warning: 'you won't survive next time.' That kind of thing."
"Do have you have a thing against killing people or something?"
"I… it's not my favourite activity, I would rather not do it in all honesty."
Levi sighed. "Okay fine. I'll just kill the leader, anyone who tries to get in my way and anybody that has even touched my Eren! That is who I consider a bad guy," Levi hoped this would assuage any doubts that Kyousuke had that Levi was listening to him and keeping in mind that there were innocent people in the building as well. "That better?"
"Much."
"Good. Now, we need to teach these assholes a lesson on what happens when you mess with the Sky Raiders."
"You know you said "we" right? As if I am a member of your crew or something."
"… I guess so… but you said earlier we were friends or something, right?" Levi muttered as his face redden slightly from embarrassment. His people skills, or lack thereof, left him feeling awkward and not knowing how to handle this situation. Then the pirate looked at the swordsman. "I thought it only made sense, since we were working together and since you were calling me captain too, that you would be joining the crew after all this. Was I wrong to think that?"
Levi's admission temporarily shocked Kyousuke. Levi thought that since they were 'friends' and working together that he would just naturally just join the Sky Raider Pirates?
Well, it was better than nothing and doing random jobs and working for money. And it wasn't like Kyousuke had anything better to do… so, sure, why not? He would join Levi's crew.
"Nah," Kyousuke waved. "You weren't wrong. I guess I could join your crew. We are kind of friends and it's not like I have anything better to do."
Levi smiled, freezing Kyousuke in place for a moment. That smile… that was an actual happy and genuine; a full blown, true smile. Was his joining the crew really making the young captain that happy or something?
"Thank you, Kyousuke," Levi said as he put his hand out. "I'm Levi, Captain of the Sky Raiders. Welcome to the crew. …. Friend."
The word almost sounded foreign coming from the pirate's mouth.
"No offence meant or anything, Levi," Kyousuke said gently and friendly. So he would know that Kyousuke really meant no offence with what he was about to say. "But maybe this whole formality can wait till after we defeat the bad guys?"
"Yeah, it can," Levi nodded in agreement. "Let's get my brother back."
"Then let's go, Captain!" the swordsman grinned reassuring to his new captain.
Eren couldn't help but smile. He could hear and feel Levi; his big brother was here, and these jackasses were going to pay! And somehow, only the sea gods knew how, his big brother has seemed to have made a friend who was heading this way with him. The kid silently wondered if this new person was going to join the crew like Kent was?
Eren, where are you? Levi's thought came in loud and clear. This place is huge!
Not sure which room is it… but it's really big and towards the back of this place, Eren told Levi as he looked around the room to try getting a better idea of where it was.
"Kent? Do you know what room we are in?" Eren asked his cell mate.
"No idea, sorry," Kent answered. "I was pretty much out of it when I was brought here and I haven't really been allowed to leave." Damn, that wouldn't help Eren lead Levi here. "Why, kid?"
"My Captain is here!" Eren grinned. "He's in the base but it's really big so he's having a hard time finding us."
"How do you know he is here?" Kent hadn't heard any alarms going off nor had their guards left or said anything. Was the kid sure his brother was here?
Eren smiled while lightly tapping the side of his head. "I just know. We're connected after all!" Acting as if that explained it all.
What did that mean… oh, right. The kid showed off his devil fruit earlier, so it must have something to do with that. But if his brother was here, that meant all the thugs were going to run into this room to take Eren away soon. After all, the kid was supposed to be their 'biggest pay day ever' or something.
"Just stay close to me till he gets here, okay?" Kent smiled reassuringly. "The thugs might try to move you before your brother gets here."
"Right!" Eren nodded.
Eren? Who are you talking to? I can hear another voice. Levi commented, sounding worried.
My new friend Kent! Eren smiled as Kent looked at him a little funny. The older boy couldn't understand why Eren was looking at him with a smile. "Levi could hear your voice and was asking me about you!"
"Oh…" Kent nodded. "Maybe you could talk out loud instead of just inside your head?" That way Kent would know what was being said. And how could the voice hear Kent but he not hear them?
"I could always add you and Levi's new friend to it?" Eren smiled. "Then we can all hear each other and we can say or not say anything out loud then!"
Eren, you know you can't add people without being able to touch their destiny string first, a strange voice suddenly said in Kent's head.
What the hell? Kent thought as he looked around. Where the hell did that voice come? What are destiny stings?
I'm taking it as you already touched this Kent guy's destiny string, the foreign voice said again with a sigh. Hello, Kent. I'm Levi. Eren's older brother and Captain. It's nice to meet you… I think…
Nice to meet you too… Kent nervously said. He wasn't sure how he felt about all this. Something about Eren's older brother made him nervous.
Well, another voice said. Isn't this an interesting trick?
Eren, Levi said sternly.
What? the eight year old asked all innocently. I recognise your friend's presence. He was one of the waiters at the tavern. I was looking at people's strings when I was bored.
What did I tell you about looking at people's strings without permission?! Eren's older brother said sounding rather annoyed. And I thought we agreed you weren't going to get kidnapped again?
"Levi-nii's mad…" the kid shivered in fear. I'm sorry Levi-nii! I tried running away, but they ran me into a brick wall and drugged me and when I woke up I had a headache and I didn't know where I was an-
THEY RAN YOU INTO A BRICK WALL?! The pirate shouted, sounding rather pissed off.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said that…" the boy commented.
Are you okay Eren? Levi asked in a sweet, big-brother voice. The same voice he would use to calm Eren after having nightmares so the kid would fall back asleep. That way he knew that everything was going to okay.
I will be once you find me, the kid smiled.
The door slammed opened as the leader of the group followed by four others came in. They were the five that Eren had tried to run from.
"Get up brat, you're coming with us!" the leader ordered as he pulled out some keys. "We're not meant to use sea-stone, but we don't have much choice. We need to move you and change the location of our meet-up with that butler guy."
Butler guy? Eren had no idea who they were talking. This butler guy must be the one they said wanted him. On the other hand, if they needed to change the location of their meet-up and were trying to move him, that meant the man wasn't here yet!
"No," Eren straight out told the man opening the cage door while the others held the sea-stone chains. "My brother is here! I'm not leaving! I told you he would come!"
Kent pulled the little fella behind him. Okay, he might not be as a strong as a regular Fishman but he was stronger than most people. The only reason why these guys were able to catch him before was because he didn't want people to know about his other side. But the kid pretty much accepted Kent's fishman blood, so he had no problem using all of his skills and abilities to protect the kid.
"Stay behind me Eren," the older boy ordered.
Eren? Levi said with worry. What's going on?
"Kent…?" the little brunet said looking confused. What was half-fishman doing? You need to hurry Levi. They want to use sea-stone on me and move me before you get here.
Hang on Eren! We'll be right there!
"You're weak half-fish," Morgan smirked. "We defeated you last time, and we will do it again."
Kent smirked in response, giving the thugs a shiver. "Only because I didn't want anyone to know what I was last time. This time, I don't have to worry about hiding. So don't think things will work out the same for you." This time, the 'half-fish' could fight full out.
Levi could sense that Eren was scared. He was trying to be brave and the pirate captain couldn't have been prouder having his little brother stand up to these assholes and tell them what for, especially after they had slammed him into a brick wall. The teen was not going to forget that anytime soon. Those bastards better watch out.
Eren? Levi said sounding concerned. What's going on?
You need to hurry Levi. Eren seemed worried, probably more for his big brother than himself but still, the brat sounded worried and that was not good.
Hang on Eren! We'll be right there! The captain told his younger brother then looked at his friend. "Kyousuke! We need to move it, now! They're trying to move Eren!" Without saying anything else, the pirate captain took off running, trying to follow a pale blue coloured line. It was one of the 'strings' that the brat talks about, the pirate thinks. The kid must be using his gift so that they had a way to find which room he and this Kent guy were in!
The swordsman sighed as he took off after his new friend and captain. Where was he going? Why was he just running? Where was he leading them? How the hell did the guy know where to go? Did he even know or was he just running randomly in panic?
"Coming, Captain!" Kyousuke shouted. It was a little annoying having to run like this, but it still made him smile. 'This is just so much fun.'
Janet sat at her table and drank her smoothie as she waited to meet her boss. She knew in part what the meeting was about: uncovering the truth as always. However, the journalist's specific assignment was a mystery to her.
"Claire!" a voice shouted.
The black-haired woman smiled as she found the voice's source, an older man with salty hair and pale blue eyes. Claire was her name whenever she met with her boss. They all had aliases. Hers for meetings was Claire, but when writing and for her publications it was Jane Carla, since it was the close to her real name of Janet Clarke. Her boss required all of his employees to take on these personas to protect their families, each other and themselves. He even had several aliases for himself. Plus, people were always looking for their newspaper. Truth was only the publication to print just that, the truth.
"Hello, Charles," Janet smiled as he sat down at her table. "So, boss, what's this about?"
"Ever heard of a kid called 'The Ice Demon'?"
"It was Levi something or something Levi, right?"
"Right. Do you mind seeing if you could interview him and his crew or find some way to write a story about them? I have had some others try to do research into him, but they haven't really been able to find anything. So I thought to myself, 'Who would be the best for this job?'"
Janet couldn't help but grin. "Me." She was pretty sure he was trying to butter her up so she would on the job. She actually didn't care whether he wanted to give her a job. If she already wanted to a certain story, she would tell her just that. After all, she's a wild and free spirit and just does what she wants anyway.
"Right," Charles nodded. "I thought you would be the best person to uncover the truth about this kid along with his intentions. What do ya say?"
"I say, don't let anyone get in my way," the 22-year-old smirked as she wrote a few short notes. "Any information you and the others have collected would be nice. I'll need it to compare with my own research."
The older man nodded and handed her a red folder. "I thought you would say that."
"When does this article need to be in?"
"Whenever you can get it in. You still have your other stories and projects as well. So, no need to rush. Take your time."
Good, that gave Janet enough time to do proper research into this kid before she went looking to talk to the pirate himself.
"Levi of the Sky Raiders, huh?" the black-hair woman grinned as she looked at her own notes. "I can't wait to find out why they call him 'The Ice Demon'. Nor can I wait to meet him in person! Thanks, Charles, I needed another big project. This is just the perfect one!" She was going to ask him for another one to do anyway, so this was wonderful.
"I thought you would say that."
"See ya around?"
"Next month, just decide on a day, time, and place. You know how to reach me, Claire."
"Cool. See you next month then, Charles."
Ren closed his eyes as he listened to the sounds of waves hitting the side of the ship. It seemed to be a nice and peaceful day today. Well, at least it seemed that way for now. It could always change for all the teen knew. That happened some days you know, it could change from good too bad in an instant. The brunet wondered if the weather would cooperate today?
"Ren!" a voice called out to him. "I need ya help fixing something! Come give me a hand would ya kid?!"
Ren sighed as he sat up. What the hell did they do to the ship this time? "Comin'!"
The pirate captain kicked the door down without any problems, he was in a foul mood. He had been feeling all of his brother's emotions and they were all the over the place. It grew so bad he asked the kid to cut the connection to everyone but kept showing the blue string that he was following.
Could Levi have two first mates? Could Kyousuke and Kent be that together? Could they work together as Co-First Mates? Levi thought he could make it so, he was captain after all. So, he should be able too. He didn't remember Henry ever saying that there couldn't be two First Mates and he wasn't sure who met who first. So, the easiest thing to do was just make them both First Mate.
Once Levi got his hands on these assholes, they were dead. No one freaks out Eren and gets away it. Levi was going to kill every single one of them and he was going to enjoy it as well. He was sure that the swordsman was not going to be happy about it, but right now, all he cared about was his brother and getting to him. If anyone got in the way… well, Levi wouldn't want to be them.
"Eren!" angry teen shouted while a young man just causally looked on the former demolished a door.
Levi's mouth dropped at the sight in front of him. His eyes were having problem believing what he saw before them.
"Levi-nii!" his brat brother smiled as a stranger was untying a chain from around him. The pirate captain couldn't help but gaze about him. Were these guys on the ground groaning in pain the ones who took Eren? What happened here? Was the dark purple-haired stranger Kent? And who the hell wrapped sea-stone chain around Levi's brother?! "You're here! This is Kent!"
The stranger nodded his head slightly to Levi. "Hello… Eren, please stop moving. I can't get the chain off you if you're moving around like that."
Kyousuke whistled as he entered the room. Someone sure did a good number on these guys, the swordsman had to admit. He was impressed.
"Did you do this, little guy?" Kyousuke smiled to Eren.
"No, Kent did!" Eren excitedly told his brother and his brother's friend.
Kent sighed as he looked at Eren seriously. "Please, Eren. I need you to be still. The chain is partially twisted, and it will speed this up."
Eren stopped moving as he looked at his new friend with a huge smile on his face. "Okay! Sorry! Levi-nii can't touch me if I have sea-stone on me. So, I'll stop moving!"
"So, your Kent," Kyousuke commented as the dark-purple stranger went back to undoing the twist in the chain.
"I am, and you are?" Kent asked still focused on the chain.
"Kyousuke," the swordsman answered. "I like your handy work with the thugs. What weapon did you use? A pipe? A bat?"
Kent flinched as he kept at the chains. The question had seemed to make the guy nervous for one reason or other. Why? Kyousuke wondered. All the while, Levi was searching through the thugs trying to work out which one was their leader.
"Why does it matter…?" the multi-coloured eyed kid asked nervously.
"Because I want to know what happened is all," Kyousuke told Kent. It was hard to work out how tall the teen was while he was on his knees on the ground attempting to unchain the kid. And, the swordsman wasn't fully sure on Kent's age either. 'How old this kid? 14? 15? 16?' he wondered to himself, 'I mean, he could be the same age as me and Levi and just look younger than us. But my gut says he's younger.'
"Kent used his bare hands!" Eren grinned and told Kyousuke whose eyes widened in surprise. "Kent is really strong! Like my brother! And he was protecting me but he was out numbered and the leader managed to get this chain on me when Kent was distracted fighting and –"
"Eren, which one is the leader?" Levi asked interrupting his younger brother's story.
"That one!" Eren pointed with his head slightly to his own right. "With the red bandana tied around his arm."
"Thank you," the pirate captain smiled as an odd-looking dragger appeared in his hand. The swordsman wanted to know where the pirate got that from. He wanted the dragger- it was beautiful looking and looked well-made and it was unlike anything that he had ever seen before. It looked just like the dragger that the pirate captain pulled out at the warehouse. But still, where did his captain get it? And just what was it made of?
"There's a green bag over on the desk on the left," Kent said to Kyousuke. "It's mine. Could you get it please? I feel naked without my guns."
The swordsman raised his eyebrows but nodded his head as he walked over to get the bag. The guy works with guns? Kyousuke never would have guessed that from the other teen's muscular form. If you asked Kyousuke, he would have guessed the guy was a martial artist or something, not a gunslinger. Then he looked over to his new captain, who was standing over the man that Eren had said was the leader of the thugs. Levi was going to kill the man, wasn't he?
"I told him my brother would end him and come for us!" the kid grinned to his new friend.
"That you did," Kent smiled back as he finally got the chain off the kid. He kept a close eye on the boy's older brother, he wasn't sure what the guy had planned. He seemed to be talking with the lead thug who had apparently regained consciousness and was understandably terrified. "What is your brother doing?"
"Striking fear into the heart of his enemy before he kills him!" the little boy answered without a second thought, then the kid hugged his new friend. "Thanks for getting rid of the sea-stone! Kick their ass Levi!"
The teen couldn't say anything as he could see the big brother glaring draggers at him. It seems that big brother is very protective of little brother.
Steam suddenly appeared and the next thing Kent knew, he could hear voices and people yelling. It sounded like people were being killed… Kent swallowed hard as he felt something cold and hard against his neck.
"I would suggest letting my brother go, now," Eren's older brother's voice demanded. Kent hadn't even touched the kid, he never even hugged him back or anything. The kid hugged him and yet he's the one who is in hot water. Why was he the one being threatened?! He didn't do anything!
"Captain," the kid frowned knowing what his older brother was doing. "Stop threatening our new crew mate!"
"Yeah, Captain," Kyousuke grinned and teased, though he couldn't really see due to the steam. He wasn't even sure where the steam came from, he could make an educated guess though. "Stop threatening our new crew mate."
"Don't you get started now!" Levi shouted at the swordsman as the steam abruptly disappeared, as did the dragger. "Eren, here." The pirate demanded as he opened up his arms.
The kid smiled, let go of Kent, and flung himself into his big brother's arms. "Levi!" Cuddling right into his older brother's arms as he easily picked Eren off the ground. There were some blood stains on Levi's pants but he ignored them in favour of his little brother.
"I thought we agreed you weren't getting kidnapped again?" the captain said in a stern voice.
Both of the other teens could see the kid flinch and get watery eyes as he looked up at his older brother, who was unfazed by the watery, doggy eyes of cuteness. Damn, those watery eyes were dangerous. How can the pirate captain not be affected by that adorable look!?
"But it's not my fault!" the eight-year-old whined. "I really tried to not get kidnapped Levi, I swear! But they ran me into a brick wall when I was running away from them! That's not my fault! And they took my picture and sent it to some man who they said was coming for me because I am apparently the kid he was looking for or something! Which was why they kidnapped me in the first place! But I don't want anyone but you! I don't want to go with some strange man! Levi! Don't let him take me away! I don't want to lose you! We promised! We promised we would always be together! Don't leave me! Ever!" Hugging his older brother tighter and crying as he clung to Levi as if he was going to disappear if Eren let him go.
The two new Sky Raider Pirates could see their captain flinch as his own grip on the kid tighten. His eyes darkened and the temperature of the room fell quiet quickly, sending shivers up their spines. It was freaking Kent out a little and now the teen knew where Eren got his glares from. While Kyousuke just sighed, it seems that their Captain was beyond pissed right now. The swordsman could see his own breath, that's how cold the room suddenly got. Okay, now he understood why they called the pirate 'Ice Demon Levi' or just 'The Ice Demon'.
"Someone hired them to kidnap you?" the captain practically growled out like a snarling wolf. His darkened, blue eyes looked back over to the forms of the thugs. Some of them dead and some of them just badly hurt. His voice going very dark. "I should kill them all."
"Maybe it would be better if we left, like right now," Kent suggested. Sounding like he knew something the other two teens didn't. The poor half-fishman was about ready to piss himself when the pirate captain looked at him with that murderous glare as the swordsman just smiled and wanted to know why the younger teen said that.
"Why do you say that?" the black hair swordsman asked the gunslinger.
"The kid hasn't told you yet, but the man who is after him and who had hired those guys," the teen explained as he pointed at the thugs. "They said he was on his way here, now." Stressing the word as much as he could so that the other two teens understood. "And they weren't sure how long it was going to take him to get here. So, I think the best idea right now is to get the hell out of here, yes? Plus, get the heck out of town and off this island, don't you agree?" Kent looked at the captain, hoping he would understand the importance of them leaving right away.
The multi-coloured eyed guy may or may not have been playing the 'we should leave now to protect Eren' card and playing it well Kyousuke admitted to himself. The swordsman thought about it for a moment, the kid had a good point. It was best if they got out of here and to another island before this unknown enemy arrived.
"I agree with Kent, Captain," Kyousuke said looking at Levi who still looked beyond pissed and wanted to commit mass murder. "We should go, now. Forget about them. We got Eren, that's what we came for remember? Let's go." The swordsman did not want to fight an unknown enemy.
The kid's grip on his older brother seemed to snap him out of his mass murder look. All of his attention on his little brother. "Can we leave now Levi? Please?"
The pirate captain didn't even give the bandits another look as he just walked towards the door. "You stay hidden on the ship while I get our things from the tavern." The short-black-haired teen told his brother. "Out of sight, Eren, you understand me? You're not allowed to come out till I tell you to."
The eight-year-old nodded his head. "Understood! I'll stay in our room under your desk!"
Their room? Kent looked at Kyousuke as if he had the answer to why the kid would say that. The swordsman just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know either.
"I saw them get in last night but I didn't really get to know them till today, and even then, I mostly know the Captain," Kyousuke told Kent. "So, I don't know them much better than you do. I need to get from my few things from the tavern too, Captain. So, I'll go with you."
"Whatever," their captain answered.
The half-fishman nodded his head and followed the swordsman who tailed their 'Captain' and his kid brother. This was an odd crew of people. A Captain who seemed to have no people skills and was dangerous as a raging hurricane. A kid who was too friendly for his own good and super weird. A swordsman who joined them only today and didn't seem to care what was going on that much. Then there was him, a half-fishman who used guns and was crazy enough to join them as well. Though, to make things fair, he was only doing it because the kid told him that he was joining, like it or not. Kent had a feeling that even if he tried to run, Levi would hunt him down and force him to come with them just to make Eren happy.
Like he said, a very strange crew indeed.
"I can take Eren to the ship so you can get what you need from the tavern," Kent offered as they left the building.
"People are going to see you," Levi told him as if Kent was stupid or something.
"No, actually. They won't," Kent told Levi as he camouflaged his whole body and shocked his captain. Not that one would know with his deadpan expression- it was only a small flinch that gave it away to his little brother and the swordsman. Eren had stars in his stars thinking it was the coolest thing ever. While Kyousuke was trying to work out how he actually did it. "I can use it on other people as well. So, they won't be able to see us. Besides, I don't need to go bck to this tavern you guys are talking about and needs protection. Also, I don't know which ship is yours, but Eren does," replied Kent as he reappeared and shocked Levi again. It was clear that the captain was unsure what to think of his new crew mate's ability to disappear and reappeared. "Is this okay with you, Levi?"
"Not like many will see us since it's dark anyway," the swordsman reminded them. "But I think that camouflage trick of yours will come in very handy. Especially since we are at an information disadvantage, Captain. Our enemy knows who Eren is but we don't who they are. So, using Kent's skill will keep Eren safe till we're able to get back to your ship and leave town. Is that bag literally all you own, Kent?"
"Yes…" the half-fishman nodded. Yes, his bag held everything he had ever owned.
"Eren?" the pirate said looking at his brother.
"I'm fine with it if you are Levi! Being invisible looks really cool!" the kid grinned happily. He seemed to be in love with the idea of being 'invisible'.
The captain sighed as he didn't seem to want to put the kid down. The pirate gave Eren a kiss on the forehead then put their foreheads together. His little brother giggled and closed his eyes as their foreheads rested against each other.
"You be careful you little runt," his older brother told him. "I'm only a thought away if you need me. Okay?"
"Okay, big brother," the kid nodded as he hugged his captain. "We'll be careful!" Kent couldn't help but flinch as the older brother put his younger brother down on the ground and the kid ran over to him and grabbed his arm. The big brother was sending him a glare with a very loud and clear message: 'mess this up and you're dead.' The pirate captain was scary, very scary. "Let's go Kent! To the Skye Ryder! Let's turn invisible!"
Kent wasn't going to explain the difference between camouflage and invisibility, it would be too much of a hassle. "Let's go then Eren." He smiled as they disappeared.
Levi didn't like the idea of Eren going off with someone who was pretty much a complete stranger, but the kid liked and trusted Kent. Plus, he did protect the kid and buy the pirate captain and the swordsman more time to get to them. So… the pirate guessed he could give the guy a chance to prove that he was at least a little trustworthy. However, if that purple-haired guy let anything happen to his Eren, he was going to end the guy.
Kent sighed as Eren just chatted along like it was nothing. Does the kid not understand that though people can't see them, they can still hear them? The half-fishman kept hold of the boy's hand. As the silly kid learned earlier, the 'invisibility' only worked on him when was touching Kent or Kent's clothing. So, the little guy thought holding hands would be the best way to stay in contact.
The people around them seemed to be unnerved hearing a voice talking and not seeing anyone there. The little fella thought it was hilarious pretending to be a ghost and scaring a lot of drunk people as they were walking, well, stumbling home.
"So," the teen said in a low voice as they arrived at the decks. There were a lot of ships. Katina, the island they were hoping to leave soon, was a well-known and popular place for many fishermen, since the surrounding sea had lots of fish. Plus, it was an ideal stop on the way to a trade island called Jayin. "Which one is your, well, our ship?" He has no idea what their ship or jolly roger looked like and, come to think of it, he did not even know the name of their crew.
The kid dragged the older teen behind him. The half-fishman had no idea that the boy was this strong. No wonder the thugs had such a hard time trying to kidnap him. Just how strong is this kid, and how did he become this strong?!
The little fella lightly hit the side of a caravel ship- it had two flags flying. A jolly roger that was obviously their crew's mark- a pirate skull with two swords instead of cross bones with roses and two odd wings behind it. The second flag had two different blue wings crossed over one another- what many people called the Wings of Freedom. The head of the ship was a bird of some kind- an eagle? Maybe a phoenix? The teen wasn't sure, he would have to ask, but since people see eagles as a symbol freedom, it was most likely an eagle.
"This one!" he smiled as he let the older boy's hand go. "Skye Ryder, meet Kent. Kent, meet Skye Ryder. Though, we call her Skye for short."
The half-fishman was not sure what to think of this. The kid was acting as if the ship was alive or something.
"She says hi!" the kid smiled. "And that it's nice to meet you."
Now the kid claimed the ship was talking. Please tell Kent that Levi doesn't encourage this? He knew that the kid was a strange one, but this was just taking the cake right now. The kid pouted and started to give him the watery, puppy-dog eyes of adorableness.
Damn that kid and his cute look right now. He's about to make the teen look and feel like an idiot for this.
"Hello… It's nice to meet you too," Kent said feeling and probably looking like an idiot for talking to a freaking wooden ship. It's not like the ship was alive and had feelings.
"She says thank you and she can't wait to get you know better!" Eren told the older teen.
Not many people knew that when ships are loved, they end up with a spirit and protector. Eren could see the destiny string of their ship's spirit and since he could see the string, he could communicate with the ship as her as well. That's how he knew for a fact that the Skye Ryder was a girl.
The ship was a gift from Henry, she had been made for Levi. So, the Skye Ryder was a very special ship and she meant a lot to both Eren and Levi, they loved her. The Skye Ryder wasn't just some ship- she was their home and a part of their family. The brothers would never trade or get rid of her.
"Let's get you hidden, hmm?" the half-fishman smiled as he shuffled the boy onto the ship. "We don't want to make the captain mad now do we?"
"That's true… Levi-nii's scary when he's mad," the kid agreed. "Kent?"
"Yes, Eren?"
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"So younger than Levi."
"I guess so. How old is he?"
"Seventeen."
"Then yes, I'm younger than Levi. Why?"
"No reason! I'm going to mine and Levi's room. You keep a watch out for Levi-nii and Kyousuke with Skye! Bye!"
The kid took off running until he reached a door, opened then closed it behind him. Kent took it as that as that was the captain's room then. Why did the brothers share a room anyway? This ship was big enough for them to have their own room, why were they sharing?
"I bet you have many secrets and know the brothers' ones," Kent said out loud to the ship. "Don't you ship?"
A rope hit him in the face. That was beyond strange. Where did that rope come? Kent looked around and noticed that it was a little windy and some of the ropes looked loose. It had to be have been the wind making those loose swing about. That was the only thing that he could think of that would explain the rope hitting him in the face like it did.
'There was no way it was because the ship was alive or had a spirit living in it or anything like that,' Kent thought to himself. 'Right?'
Levi: 18 favs
Eren: 20 follows
Kent: 30 reviews
Kyousuke: over 690 views.
and that's the chapter guys! i hope you all enjoyed it. i wonder if anyone noticed what i based the jolly roger of the Sky Raider's off XD. oh right, i thought it would just be easiest to put all of the characters that i have accepted in a chapter by itself. so yeah, two chapters for the price one. though, only one is really a chapter and the other is a list of characters. but of course, due to plot, i won't be relieving every single character to you. just the important ones that you need to know and remember the names of. and there too many crew members to name them all with certain crews. so yeah, i hope you all enjoy.
Levi: more like laziness. it has nothing to do with plot. your just being lazy by not naming all of the characters
*critical hit to fireandicephoenix's pride*
Eren: I thought it was because phoenix was still working out plot and characters and stuff
*finishing blow to pride* i have no pride... they're so mean to me! *sulking in corner*
Kyousuke *laughing*: RIP to fireandicepheonix's pride!
Kent: please tell me for the fan's sake that those two didn't just break the author
Kyousuke *shrugs shoulders*: i have no idea. do i look a doctor or whatever to you? anyway guys, till next chapter. see ya!