A/N: Braving bad weather, colds, deadlines, exams and a serious case of the 'oh geezus I've lost my writer's mojo o A o!' syndrome, finally -finally- got this chapter finished! Yeah... only a few months behind schedule ha..ha...ha... I'm really sorry it took so long but please know that I never intend to abandon any of my fictions unless it feels like I really can't keep it up. Please don't worry about them :)

Thank you all so much for reviewing, reading or even just sending a private message just to say how much you're enjoying this to me! It really got me through some of the tough spots in the past few months :) Hope you all will continue to enjoy, especially now that you have a new chapter to peruse to your heart's content.

Enjoy~

WARNING: Untranslated possibly terrible German ahead! And possible bad editing (1:25AM GMT posting this! Woohoo!)

Bells were tolling as the Ragnarok almost flew into the harbour, her sails filled with wind and like wings carrying her back home. Leon could see them. All the townsfolk of his home were piling out of their homes and workplaces, crowding around the pier. He knew who they all were. Family, friends and lovers of his crew; these were the people that would wait for their loved ones when they went out to sea with the Rex Pirata.

Moments like this were his favourite. He liked to watch from afar seeing the unadulterated joy of the reunions, feeling a sense of achievement whenever he returned home with all crew members and no deaths to return like this time –a small miracle in itself, but it also spoke volumes of Terra's skill as a doctor.

"Ready to cast anchor Captain!"

"Hold her steady! Get ready to turn her about!" He could hear them calling. Crew and townsfolk alike. Some would say it was a like a hero's welcome; he disagreed. This was the welcome that was just much better than that. It was just a shame that for him it felt a bit hollow; he hadn't come back with Ellone like he had vowed he would. To bring those four here though… Zexion must be right; he must be going mad to be doing this, but where else could they go? Tortuga was much too vulnerable against an attack even if there were hundreds of pirates there and all were sober. Besides, there were some places you just never took multiple hostages to, and Tortuga was one of them. You couldn't trust the populace with a barrel of grog let alone a human life.

They were soon anchored at the port, the sails pulled up and the deck becoming a hive of frantic excited activity. Leon watched as cargo was unloaded and crew members were reunited with their families and friends. He stayed put at the ship's wheel, leaning against it as he watched the scene unfold before him.

Soon the full truth about whom and what Rex Pirata was would be revealed to the aristocrats. Whether they were ready to accept that they were now hostages in Gardenian allied waters… that seemed easier to tell them. He stood up straighter when he noticed a flash of silver hair.

Riku. No doubt the thief was with him too. The pair were as thick as … well, thieves. You very rarely saw one without the other on the island. He watched as Riku looked around the pier and then boarded the ship, seeming to try and find someone. Probably Ellone; Riku had been tasked as Ellone's bodyguard to and from the mainland. It had been Riku who had lost her; Leon remembered how he had to stop Riku from trying to make a fool's leap from the fortress walls to the ship that had captured her. No one had taken the loss harder than him, as it tarnished his honour and reputation. He couldn't go back to mainland or be a part of Leon's crew because of that.

It made Leon think that the silver-haired Departurian was overreacting; then again, he was of warrior-stock. He could understand where the young swordsman was coming from. He watched as the silver-haired one approached, his thief companion at his heels. "Riku."

"Your Grace," Riku bowed humbly to him. Sora behind him just slightly bowed in comparison to his older companion. "…were you unsuccessful in your search?" he asked carefully.

"No. I did find her," Leon replied. "Unfortunately… a raid was just not a viable option."

"The dangers were too numerous?"

"She was in Bastionite territory." Riku flinched at hearing that. "It appears though that the man who kidnapped her has yet to tell his king of El- … Her Imperial Highness' visit." Even if he was Ellone's cousin, even Leon knew he shouldn't refer to her so familiarly in front of subjects of hers. Riku may have joined his crew from time to time on small journeys, but Riku was and always would be Ellone's faithful servant. "That's why I need you to trust me on this. I had to arrange for a trade, but the trade itself is dangerous. Too dangerous for the Empire to be involved in." Leon weakly smiled, hoping that maybe he'd appease to the Departurian's concerns. "That's why I'm here. Act as the middle man and no one need know my connections to the Empress."

"But why would a Bastionite kidnap Her Imperial Highness now? And not tell his own king?"

"I don't know," Leon replied honestly. "That's what I need to figure out. That's why I have to humour him, until I can figure out his game." The pirate pursed his lips as he watched the young aristocrats that were the crux of his problem being herded off the Ragnarok and onto the pier. "I just don't believe that petty Bastionite domestic politics have anything to do with Her Imperial Highness' kidnapping and our man's willingness to trade her for some rival family's little chicks."

Cloud looked around the pier, holding Naminé close and tight to him as they were assailed by all the new sights and smells of this strange pirate haven they had landed on. It seemed that this place truly was bucking every belief and idea he had of what a pirate haven should be, and yet there was something more terrifying. Pirates with family and friends that were worth fighting for. Maybe that was why Leon's pirate crew were so much more frightening that Silver's rag tag group ever could be in Cloud's eyes. When there was nothing to lose, it would only breed cruelty, but when there is everything to lose, it would breed ferocity instead. That was what Cloud was coming to understand.

Though of all the things he had been so sure not to expect, seeing a sleek black road coach approach the pier had surprised him. If it's Leon's, no doubt its stolen goods. If so, that must've meant that Leon or his predecessor must have planned so hare-brained scheme that actually worked. On the other hand, Cloud was relieved that there wasn't much walking to be done, especially since it did indeed look like the pirates were piling the Strife possessions onto its back, helped by the driver and the footman.

"Looks like its easy living when you're a pirate king," Roxas next to him commented dryly. "No doubt he lives in some massive castle filled to the brim with stolen gold."

"You'd be surprised how much of it is inherited, stolen or otherwise." Roxas leapt forward in shock when that voice interjected, glaring at the red-haired pirate that had just walked up behind him. Cloud tried not to be amused. "Remember to keep your judgements to yourself Roxas," Axel warned. "After all, we could say that all Bastionites are incest-ridden swivel eyed loons."

"Hey!" Roxas yowled.

"It's for horses," Axel said, getting his arms around the two young twins and shuffling them over to the road coach. "Come on now. Your chariot awaits." Cloud hesitated a little; going into that coach meant further time in a hostage situation. While he thoroughly doubted that Leon would throw them into some dungeon, another part of him worried about what sort of prison awaited them now. After all, Leon never denied that they were his hostages. His guests, but hostages all the same. Naminé took his hand carefully.

"It's not like we have any less reason to not trust them," she whispered to her older brother. "They've proved themselves to hold some form of honour. At least give them the benefit of the doubt."

"I just do not think we should be giving them our trust readily yet," Cloud murmured, but he -reluctantly- moved towards the road coach, helping Naminé inside before getting in himself. At least, he had thought, none of the crowd seemed to pay much notice to them.

As usual, Leon's approach to his ride home was delayed by excitable family and friends of his crew all coming to thank him for once again bringing them all (well, most of them) back safely. Yet again he directed them to Terra, who in his mind was the true hero they should be thanking. All he did was bark orders; Terra saved lives where others might believe it impossible.

"Had enough of your adoring public?" Axel asked him, leaning heavily against the large back wheel of the coach. Leon could taste the gleeful sarcasm in his first mate's voice.

"Not every pirate captain likes to hog the attention," Leon grumbled, clambering up to sit with the driver. "So… want to ride up with us or would you rather go home?"

"I better go back home with Kairi," Axel responded. Leon could see him practically droop with reluctance. "I… I need to be with her."

"Of course," Leon said quietly. "Make sure Terra sees her too. She deserves the best treatment."

"I know," Axel muttered, wrapping his arms tightly around his chest. "Hey… Leon…"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Just for giving us a fighting chance." Axel pushed himself off the wheel and whistled shrilly for his sister's attention. Kairi looked over her shoulder, nodded her head and turned back to say her goodbyes to friends who had been waiting for her. Leon watched as brother and sister walked away from the pier, in the direction of the Seventh Heaven pub and inn. He couldn't help but sigh, and couldn't help but feel pity for the Brandt siblings. Even he wasn't sure Terra could perform a miracle for them in their situation, but at least he could provide some comfort. He noticed Terra and Aqua making their way out of the throng.

"Terra!"

The second mate turned his head up to him, tilting his head to the side. Aqua too looked up at Leon. "Yes Captain?" Terra asked.

"Make sure to pay a visit to Frau Brandt today if you can. I'm sure Axel and Kairi will appreciate it."

"Of course. She's one of the significant patients I have to visit today."

"Good. Don't forget that you're welcome to come up to the manor too."

"We'll come when we can for casual house calls. Let me know if you need my assistance with anything else. Oh, and I'll also be making regular checks on Fraulein Naminé. Make sure she eats well."

"Of course," Leon responded, feeling the coach's weight shift; Riku and Sora must have jumped onto the seat behind with the footman. "Take care." He motioned for the driver to start moving forward; the driver cracked his whip and whistled sharply to the two horses pulling, and they broke into a brisk trot up the road leading out of the town and toward the manor house that was built high above the quiet pirate haven. At least now he could try to plan his next move in relative peace, so long as they weren't under attack again.

What's your move now? I've got what you want, but I'm not foolish enough to go barrelling into your hands.

They were all silent as the coach swayed side to side and bumped over the cobblestones of the road, none of the Strife siblings saying a single word though all were thinking very different things. Cloud could tell that Ven was troubled by something; maybe it had been something that Terra had said to him, something he could not quite figure out for himself. Roxas he was sure was fuming over Axel; it seemed that the most piratical looking man of Leon's crew had a knack for provoking his young brother's temper. And Naminé, she seemed to be more interested in the world outside the coach window, watching as white stone buildings gave way to exotic foliage and jungle. Her eyes were alight with wonder; Cloud couldn't help but share her feelings of the overwhelming marvel of this island haven himself.

It's everything that it shouldn't be in my mind… this Destiny Islands… He opened the window and poked his head out, surprised to see that a rather handsome looking red-brick manor house with all the fashionable architectural features built coming into view. It's more like he lives like an aristocratic lord than a king of pirates.

"All fine in there?" Leon's voice called back from the front, patting the top of the coach. Cloud couldn't see his face though.

"I suppose," Cloud replied; it was a weak answer, but he didn't really know how else to reply. "What exactly do you plan on doing to us?"

"I don't plan on anything," Leon replied. "Or are you still of the belief that I intend to maim and torture the lot of you."

"You haven't proven yourself innocent in my eyes just yet, Your Highness," Cloud said, the royal salutation muttered with an air of sarcasm that only earned a small chuckle from the pirate king.

"I didn't know I was being judged or had to prove anything, Your Honour." The coach ground to a halt; in front of them was a pair of simple tall iron wrought gates. The coach's weight shifted again as three bodies jumped off. "Sora, Sie kennen die Regeln."

"Aw, nicht kann ich für ein Stückchen gerade hereinkommen?"

"Sora…"

"Gut erhalte ich ihm Ihre Exzellenz." Cloud watched as a young dishevelled brunet moved away from the coach. "Riku! Ich warte auf Sie in der Stadt! Sie kennen den Platz!"

"Ich treffe Sie später zusammen! Auf Wiedersehen!"

The brunet nodded and waved to them, turning back to walk down into the town, hands behind his head. Cloud wondered why the brunet was leaving; was he not privy to enter the pirate king's property? Maybe there was something only a few were allowed to see.

He hoped this wouldn't become like one of those gothic stories that Naminé was partial to. He didn't think he could handle a gruesome stay of the likes of the events of Captain Blood or The Fall of the House of Gracey. Then again, once more it seemed that the pirate captain wasn't actually capable of such atrocities. Then again, it's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

The coach drew closer to the manor house, and Cloud felt a bit disappointed that it seemed the height of respectability as some well-dressed servants (if that was indeed what they were) stepped out, all of them bowing their heads in respect as the coach halted at the front door. Leon jumped down from his spot. "An der Leichtigkeit. Entladen Sie bitte das Gepäck und bereiten Sie etwas Räume für meine Gäste vor. Es gibt vier in allen, die wir unterbringen müssen."

"Ja Ihre Exzellenz," they all chorused; the footman who had run behind them opened the coach door, offering his hand out to those who needed it. Cloud ignored him; Naminé took the offer, gripping her billowing skirts in one hand and holding them up so that she wouldn't step on them. The twins jumped out one by one. Cloud looked around; Leon had disappeared somewhere. Into the manor?

"If you would please follow me, young sirs and lady." Cloud was so glad that there was someone who could speak Bastionite to them, so he looked to him. Short blond hair, with clean cut facial hair. Well dressed, but clearly he must have been part of Leon's pirate crew because the man's ears were heavily pierced. "I am Luxord, the majordomo of this manor. Please leave any requests you have to me."

"Thank you," Naminé answered for her brothers, as they stepped inside. Cloud felt his eyes widen as he was greeted with the sight of the spotless entry hall with grand dark-stained wood staircase and a practically sparkling silver chandelier. Indeed, the pirate king lived more like a respectable noble than a ruler of thieves. He could feel the disappointment oozing from Roxas, who was still determined to think the worst of their- captors? No, he couldn't call them that… but he wasn't sure 'hosts' was appropriate either.

"As you can see, the Rex Pirata would rather you were comfortable than waste away in some dungeon as you might believe you would end up in," Luxord continued, leading the siblings up the stairs to decorated hallways; familiar objects one would associate with an aristocratic home lined the walls. Cloud half wondered how many of these were 'inherited' stolen treasures as Axel had put it. "You have free range of the manor and land, and you may go down into town if you so wish but he advises against solo visits. This town might be safe for average civilians to walk around but it is still a pirate haven; if a pirate crew comes here seeking refuge, he has to let them in."

"Ha, I knew it," Roxas muttered. "He might be better than most pirates, but he still lets the real thing in."

"Oh trust me," Luxord said, looking over his shoulder. He seemed amused by the young aristocrat. "Those pirates won't even see the next day if they should do something unspeakable to any under Rex Pirata's protection."

And I certainly don't doubt it. The bell of the Ifrit was still ringing in his ears at the memory, as well as the glow of the burning wreckage. If the bell tolls after a gunshot, then Rex Pirata had sealed your doom. That was something he had learned that night.

"This is the young lady's room. The next three rooms are for you gentlemen. Your luggage should arrive shortly," Luxord said, opening a door that led to a green and white room. "We intend to have the evening meal by six."

"Will the Rex Pirata be there?" Cloud asked.

"Unless he wishes to eat alone in his study, then he will be there." Luxord then dryly chuckled. "I wouldn't concern yourselves too much with his daily movements. The Rex Pirata is much like a cat sometimes. One minute he's there with you, the next he's disappeared without so much as a word."

If that's the case… then where is he now?

Leon's study was a refuge for him, having been completely encased with books and curiosities that he had collected on his travels. Some were bought, others were pillaged, but a lot were also inherited from his predecessors as well. So tall were the stacks of books now that none of the hired help even stepped foot inside, long since giving up on ever hoping to get it all in order. Now though, Leon was looking through every piece of knowledge he had on the current state of affairs between Hollow Bastion and Radiant Garden.

"So it's still an uneasy truce, but it could easily snap at any moment… does he want to start a war by kidnapping Ellone? No… if he did he wouldn't have demanded the Strifes return to Hollow Bastion before they made it to the Disney Continent. So that must mean it's influenced by internal politics." He leafed through letters received from ambassadors in Radiant Garden. "Therefore, there must be something going on between the Strife family and the Governor of Balamb… Ah, so they were going to their place of betrothal as political peace offerings, but it would make the Strife family even more powerful. I see… so is that your game?"

"Your Excellency?"

Leon looked up. "Ah! Come on in! You know your way to the desk."

Riku peered around one of the many piles of books, taking care not to bump into the Departurian bonsai. "Your Excellency, could you at least consider organising your collections better than this?"

"They are organised," Leon said in a deadpan voice. He then sighed. "Though I suppose I ought to clear the study out at some point. There are things in here that I don't even know just who brought it back."

"You could put some of them in an auction house in the capitol. No doubt you could accumulate some funds for the town and for ship repairs."

"True."

"But you won't do it, will you?"

"Once a pirate always a pirate," Leon replied, going over to the bonsai and moving it to the window. "Even more so when you're born a pirate."

"Must be hard, being the Rex Pirata and the Most Excellent Duke Leonhart of Destiny Islands, huh?"

"I've learned to just get on with the double life." Leon leaned against his desk. "But telling me off about the state of my study isn't what you're here for, is it."

Riku nodded his head slightly. "Your Excellency, I like to request to join your crew until Her Imperial Highness is safely returned to Radiant Garden."

"Riku, we've been over this…"

"I was afraid you were going to say that…" Riku suddenly landed heavily on his knees, pressed his katana which he always carried on his person hard against the floor and bowed his entire being in absolute submission in front of Leon. The pirate king flinched at the sight; bloody Departurian custom… "I humbly beg of you to take me in as a simple pirate on your crew. I'll take whatever position you see fit, even if it's just a cabin boy, and if I ever fall out of line, I will gladly accept whatever punishment you deem-"

"Oh just get up!" Leon groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Hyne, you know how to strong arm me to your whims…"

Riku slowly stood up. "I will do whatever necessary to protect Her Imperial Highness, even join a pirate crew." He straightened himself out and placed his katana back where it belonged on his waist. "That's my solemn duty as a refugee living in Radiant Garden's empire."

"…Fine. I can't say no to that." Leon turned back to his work. "In the meantime, do me a favour and make sure our guests are well taken care of. Particularly the lady. She's still high on Terra's priority patient list."

"Is she unwell?"

"Malnourished for the most part, but you never know; she might regress in these settings."

"Then I'll see to it that she adheres to the doctor's demands."

"You do that."

By the time the sun began to sink closer to the horizon, Cloud had grown bored of looking out towards the town and sea from his new bedroom window; they weren't giving him answers to very puzzling questions that the Rex Pirata was posing. He turned away from the window and strode to the door, walking briskly through the halls and deciding to just let himself get lost in the manor. He had heard from somewhere that getting lost was the best way to get to know a place, and since he was sure now that they'd be here in this manor for a long time until Leon was ready to take them somewhere else, wherever it may be.

Let's see… he lives like an aristocrat but not like a pirate king, or at least what I think a pirate king should live like. He captured us like hostages –admittedly from an even worse situation– had my siblings work as a part of the crew while keeping me locked up and yet he treats us like guests here on this island. I'm even allowed to walk freely in his property. Cloud stopped; he seemed to have walked himself straight into the rather small garden area; dense tropical forest encased it completely, growing over the old iron and stone fence that lined the garden. So why? Why act harshly then suddenly change tact? What is his game? Because this was all it was; a game. It had to be. It must be. And it has something to do with this mysterious Governor. Which Governor? From which country? From Hollow Bastion?

Unfortunately, only Leon had the answers, and Cloud knew he'd never get them from the pirate. At least, not unless something changed.

Something had to change if he was to get his answers.

On the other hand… the one good thing that's come out of this kidnapping is that it's delaying the inevitable.

Unknown to the young aristocrat, the pirate king was watching him from his study window, humming a bit to himself in thought. So far, his deductions seemed to be the most logical answer, and yet he felt unsatisfied. Why go to all the trouble of kidnapping Ellone, just for those siblings? And why risk the international incident just for petty internal politics? No, this wasn't at all satisfactory for an answer. That man was up to something. Leon had to figure it out fast… but seeing Cloud outside was starting to make his normally focused mind start to wander.

Cloud's hair looked more rose-golden in the fading sunlight, he had idly thought. He changed clothes too. That should have pleased him no end. No daggers, small blades or firearms though; Leon had made sure of that before any of the Strife luggage was returned to their rightful owners. Yet, there was still something rather dangerously alluring about the Bastionite noble… the same sort of allure a pirate might fall for with cursed treasure.

Desire… Leon had that horrible feeling that his inner pirate was lusting a bit over Cloud as one of the most valuable and prized treasures worth having. He had to slap himself across the face at that moment. "Stop it Leonhart," he grumbled to himself. "He's a person, not an object." He was going to skin Terra alive the next time he saw him; damn him for piquing his interest about the Bastionite. He could have gone on along quite happily with this whole venture if Terra hadn't said anything about Cloud's attractiveness. It wouldn't hurt you know… just get a little closer to him, so long as you don't let on that you're going to– "No!" he told himself off again. "Cloud is off limits!"

"Trouble, Your Excellency?"

Leon stiffened and turned to face Luxord. "How long have you been there?"

"Just long enough to hear you admonish yourself. Pray tell why the Master Cloud is bothering you?"

"It's nothing to talk about Luxord."

"Something happen on the open sea?"

"Nothing happened."

"Oh? Then why tell yourself your guest is 'off limits'?"

Leon didn't deign Luxord an answer, feeling embarrassed with himself for having to fight off a piratical urge to lay claim to the lordling in question when he knew he wasn't his to keep. Sadly for Leon though, his majordomo seemed to have been born with a sixth sense for these sorts of things. "Ah… he's got your interest, has he?"

"…it's Terra's fault…"

"You were trying to avoid him completely at first until your curiosity got piqued, weren't you?"

"…yes…"

"Well, I will admit that he is quite startlingly striking, but something tells me that this kidnapping business is going to be more troublesome," Luxord sighed. "Try not to get too close, Your Excellency. It'll make the trade much harder on you."

"…I know…" Leon let his arm rest against the window, watching Cloud as he explored his new surroundings. "…I know…" In the distance, he heard the bell of the front door clang about.

"Ah, that must be Doctor Fukao," Luxord commented. "He's earlier than I thought."

"Terra must've had fewer calls to make." Leon knew that the manor would have been Terra's last port of call; there were many more people on the island that would have taken precedence, and he made sure the Departurian doctor knew that. "Luxord, can you make sure that our guests eat well. No doubt Riku might be joining them for dinner too. Oh… and tell the kitchen just to send mine up to the study."

"No intention to join them, Your Excellency?"

"I have a few letters to write and send off. It's better to get them done now rather than later."

"As you wish."

Ven was making his way down from his room just as Terra had been let in, looking at him in surprise; he hadn't expected to be seeing Terra again so soon. "Terra?"

"Oh." The Departurian looked up and smiled faintly at the youngster. "Ven. How are you faring? Is Leon treating you well?"

"We all have our own rooms and our belongings again, but we're a bit confused by all this." Ven walked down the rest of the way along the stairs. "Roxas in particular is finding this all a bit hard to swallow."

"Glad to know he's still sceptical of us…" Terra murmured. He then said something to the manservant who had let him inside in Gardenian, though it was so quiet that Ven hadn't been able to make out what it was. He turned back to Ven. "You might be on the island for a long time. You should try to walk around and get to know the place."

"So you're really not going to imprison us here?"

"No of course not," Terra said. "…or I should say, it was never our intention to imprison anyone…"

"You make it sound like you were meant to make an exchange out on the sea."

Terra laughed dryly. Had he just stumbled onto something the pirates were trying to keep from them? "Well, you could say that." Ven noted the strain in Terra's voice.

"…hey, how is Axel?" Ven asked, changing the subject quickly. "And Kairi?"

"Why ask me that?"

"I managed to make out some details while I was in the carriage from the captain's conversations with you and Axel." Ven pursed his lips together tightly as he chose his words carefully. "Is… something wrong with…?"

Terra looked at Ven for a moment. Then he sighed heavily and came over, sliding an arm around his shoulders and pulling him to the side; he spoke in a quiet whisper. "It's bad news in Axel and Kairi's family. There is…" He paused for a while. "There is consumption in their home."

"Consumption?"

"Yes… their mother's illness has become worse since I last saw her."

"Their… mother?"

Terra just nodded his head. "I'm only telling you this as an apprentice doctor. You need to swear not to say a word of this to anyone. Especially not to your siblings. It isn't my place to discuss this."

"…will Axel and Kairi…?"

"It's a possibility," Terra murmured. "All they can do is follow my instructions to the letter." He then sighed. "Anyway, that's enough about the Brandts. I need to do a check up on your sister to make sure she's on the road to recovery."

"Hey Terra… can I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Terra was already starting to walk up the stairs; maybe he had been told where Naminé was.

"Why are you making Naminé gain weight?"

"It's healthier."

"She was only conforming to the fashion."

"Fashion does not equate health Ven," Terra said. "In parts of my country the fashion is small feet. That means curling them up tightly since birth until they merely become stubs. The result is that they can barely walk, so stay at home and not see the world outside their own front door."

"That's horrible…"

"You see why I get angry whenever I get told 'it's the fashion' as an excuse for ill health? Because sometimes the 'fashion' is just barbaric."

"I'm sorry… I didn't realise…"

"No… it's fine. Just some of these Gardenian and Bastionite doctors are about as useful as a mouse in a rice mill."

"What makes you say that?"

"Gangrenous arm? Cut off. Plague? Drill a hole into the skull to 'let out' the humours or smell your own farts. Dizziness? Use leeches to suck the blood out of you since you have 'too much' blood. It's stupid. It's illogical. It's just beyond understanding."

"And consumption?"

"They might as well have wrapped a rope around their neck and kicked the stool from under them." Terra then sighed. "Not that it's looking like any of my medicine is having much effect either… I should have left Aqua behind to take care of her…"

"…can I go with you next time? On your rounds I mean."

"…if you can get Leon's permission, then I'm not against it." Terra stopped at Naminé's door and rapped his knuckles against it. "Fraulein Naminé! I'm here for a check-up!"

While this was happening, Roxas had managed to do the one thing none of his siblings had dared to try so early in their new surroundings. While no one was looking, Roxas had snuck out from the eyes of the household staff, having spent a huge amount of time in his room knotting together a rope from the bed linens and sheets as soon as he was able to do so in peace. With his bedroom locked and the only sign of his departure being the bed linen rope dangling from the window, Roxas went to the furthest edges of the property and walked along the fencing to the iron wrought gates. He slipped through the open gates and dashed off down the road, clutching the ink black cloak around him tightly, the only thing hiding his face and body from the world. It was not his intention to escape. No, his mission was a little more nobler than that. Roxas intended to find a way for him and his siblings to escape this pokey little island and head back home.

The first thing he was going to do as soon as he got back to Hollow Bastion was demand a death sentence on one Axel Brandt. His 'woman'? Axel's 'woman' his arse! "Just you wait Axel Brandt. I'll loop the noose around your neck myself!"

He hated him. He honestly hated him. Even if Axel's woman lie had been said to protect him from the rest of the crew, Roxas had finally come to his senses when Axel mentioned that he had a lady here on this island waiting for him. His honour had basically been soiled! He'd rather have taken his chances with the irate crew than suffer that indignity! These irate thoughts powered Roxas onwards into the town, spurring him to find a way to get back to law abiding society.

The air in town was thick with the sounds of the jungle, the hoots of enjoyment from the pirates in their homes and pubs, and the smell of alcohol, gunpowder, sea and all other manner of fragrances –some pleasant, some not so pleasant– to create a toxic tang that assailed the young aristocrat's nostrils. For the most part, the pirates and people of the town largely ignored him, and he ignored them. They weren't necessary; he knew how to get to the docks as he had memorized the route they had travelled by coach earlier. The issue would be finding a ship either to stowaway on or to commandeer. In these cases, Roxas knew that thinking like a pirate would probably help him. After all, pirates weren't as long lasting for nothing if the threat of piracy was more alarming than highwaymen on the land. Think like a pirate, think like a pirate…

As he walked further along, he walked past a pub that declared itself merrily as the Seventh Paradise; it sounded rowdy inside but Roxas tried not to let it bother him. After all, he wasn't going to-

As he walked past the front door, it suddenly opened and a body flew out. "Und Wegbleibung!" a woman's voice shrieked. Roxas turned around swiftly, grabbing his hood before it fell off his head and revealed his golden locks. The body was a man; one of Rex Pirata's crew members he remembered. When he looked up, he saw a ma- no! It was a woman that was dressed like a man! She was standing firmly in the doorway, deep wine-coloured eyes staring angrily at the man that was drunkenly trying to find his feet. "Sie wiederholen überhaupt das bis eins meiner Mädchen und ich reiße Ihren Hahn auseinander!"

Roxas shifted a bit uncomfortably, turning his head back towards the dock and trudging onwards. This was not his place… that was not his problem… just keep moving… just keep moving… "He! Sie!" Roxas stopped right in his tracks. "Sie mich bedauernd?! Sie denken, dass ich? kläglich bin! Wie?! WIE?!"

"He! Ließ ihn allein!" the woman yelled at the drunkard. Roxas could hear the drunkard stumbling to him; he turned, forgetting about his hood as it suddenly tumbled off his head and revealed his face.

"Brunnen, wenn es nicht Brandts Frau ist. Möglicherweise lasse ich es schieben, wenn Sie mich wenig 'Bevorzugung' tun. Die Art geben Sie Brandt."

Forgetting himself, Roxas saw red at the words 'Brandt' and 'Frau'. "I… am… not his whore!" Roxas yelled, punching the man across the face as soon as he was within reach. The man stumbled, looking at the young noble with surprise.

"Sie kleines Weibchen!" Roxas saw a glint of dull metal. And then another; the man stopped moving.

"Wie über Sie beim 'Weibchen' sich entschuldigen Sie und möglicherweise schlitze ich nicht Ihre Kehle auf." Roxas' eyes went wide.

"Axel…"

"Axel! Erhalten Sie nicht Blut auf meiner Haustür!" the woman yelled. Axel did not move though, keeping the dagger very close to the man's jugular.

"Entschuldigen Sie sich. Jetzt," Axel ordered.

"…Es tut mir leid…"

"Gut. Verlassen Sie jetzt einen meinen Anblick." The man scuttled away quickly once Axel had taken his dagger away, disappearing into the night. Roxas then felt Axel's green stare on him. It wasn't supposed to be like this… he was supposed to get home before anyone noticed he had been gone after he- "I'm taking you back. You've caused enough trouble for me for one night."

"I didn't ask for you to save me!" Roxas yelled at him. "I had that completely under-!"

"You were almost killed, you idiot!" Axel stepped forward and grabbed him by the nape, forcing Roxas to look up into his eyes. "And then what?! What purpose do you think risking your life is worth?! Heartaches, that's what!" Roxas blinked as Axel then proceeded to lecture him while slipping into a string of expletives and his own mother tongue, leaving the noble very much in the dark of what the Gardenian was scolding him for exactly… but he could get the gist of it.

He was going to be in serious trouble later tonight. However… was it just him or did Axel sound frantic?

"Kümmern Sie sich, Ihres Liebhabers zu haben streiten anderswo? Sie stören meine Gäste." The woman was still standing there, hands on her hips and ebony hair flying a little in the sea wind. Axel let go of Roxas at this point, turning to the woman.

"Tifa, konnten Sie uns leihen ein Pferd? Ich muss dieses Kind zurück zu dem seinem Landsitz der Exzellenz nehmen."

The woman sighed. "Ich erhalte Kirin oben gesattelt. Holen Sie ihn einfach zurück morgens."

"Danke." Axel's firm hand gripped Roxas again, this time on his shoulder. "Come on you. We'll go wait for the horse inside…"

He did sound more frazzled. Had the event really shook him up that badly? Or… or did something happen beforehand…? The woman had already walked in and disappeared into the hive-like pub. Everywhere Roxas looked there was something strange and alarming to him; drunkards, pirates, slight and buxom barmaids, men with trails of tobacco and opium smoke weaving around them in a soft mist, gamblers and sometimes a clandestine meeting happening in the shadows. Axel guided him to the back, to a corner table and bench that wasn't being used. He planted the young noble firmly there. "You do not move from this spot," Axel said tersely. "This is a very bad night to push my buttons, Roxas."

Roxas said nothing to that, staying put as he was told to as Axel stalked off through the crowds to the bar. He watched the mingling bodies as he waited, feeling very much out of his depth here in this rowdy pub. Back home, he only managed to get outside the manor house's grounds whenever he made his escapes, getting as far as halfway to the town of Midgar before being caught by Vanitas' men and dragged back kicking and screaming. Being here, among the common folk and the pirates, was a very strange experience. Stranger than being on a pirate ship somehow. At least no one was approaching him, he had told himself. No one seemed at all interested in him… maybe that was Axel's influence?

He was brought out of his thoughts when two large tankards were almost slammed onto the table. Axel slid onto the bench heavily, grabbing one tankard and glugging down the contents. Roxas just looked at the pirate with befuddlement before looking at the remaining tankard with some sort of liquid inside. "Drink your rum. It'll calm you down," Axel muttered; it seemed that he needed the rum more than the young noble did. Roxas watched him carefully. He could dare to ask… but at the same time it might be safer not to ask. "Just what on earth made you think it was safe for you to sneak into town…"

"…No reason."

"Roxas, I might be an uneducated sea rat but I'm not dumb. You were trying to find a way to escape, weren't you?"

Roxas didn't deny or confirm it. Why should he if Axel appeared to know him so well? "…I know you aren't dumb. You speak two languages."

"What does that make you?" Axel said wryly; Roxas knew it was Axel's way of mocking him for his inability to understand Gardenian.

"I'll have you know that I can have an intelligent conversation with a philosopher if I wanted to!"

"And?" Axel asked, not looking impressed as Roxas had hoped. "Everyone's a philosopher whether they know it or not." He then sighed and gulped back more of his rum. "So… you're that desperate to get back into the cage?"

Roxas knew what Axel meant by 'the cage'. Civilisation. His first cage. "…We don't belong here, and besides, you're pirates. You didn't save us from Silver just out of the kindness of your own hearts…"

"And you're still annoyed about the whole 'woman' thing," Axel noted. "Can't deny any of that." Roxas glared at Axel in annoyance; the pirate ignored him. "Trust me, if there was any other way of having to deal with you, I'd take it in a heartbeat. But there isn't."

"There is. You let us go or you kill us." This only earned a dry, sardonic chuckle.

"How many times have I ever considered the latter…" Axel muttered, looking over to Roxas with an unreadable expression. "And how many times I've considered doing it to…" he trailed off, looking pensively into his rum.

Something had definitely happened earlier on. Something completely unrelated to him, and against his better judgement, Roxas found himself asking, "…did something happen?"

Axel said nothing for the longest time, as if he hadn't heard Roxas or something more interesting had appeared in his drink. He finally answered. "Family situation." He finished his drink and looked over to Roxas. "Not drinking?"

"It smells weird."

"That's good stuff there. Don't waste it."

"Then you drink it."

"I'm driving a horse with you on it later. As tempting as drinking myself into a stupor is, I have to be responsible for once." Axel pushed the tankard more towards Roxas, gesturing him to drink up. "Besides, it'll warm you up."

"It isn't cold…"

"It will if you're not careful," Axel warned. Roxas somehow detected something a bit ominous in Axel's words so he obeyed. Just this once. He sipped very daintily at the rum; this only caused Axel to chuckle and mutter something under his breath. A family situation though… something to do with the 'lady' waiting for him? He didn't notice the woman in men's clothes walking up to them.

"Kirin wird oben gesattelt. Gehen Sie, wenn das Kind sein Getränk beendet wird," she said, crossing her arms over her ample bosom.

"Danke Tifa," Axel replied, turning his attention back to Roxas. "Finish up quickly. Enough of the ladylike sips." Roxas just glared at him, purposely taking even slower sips just to spite the pirate. The woman sat on the stool across from them.

"Wie ist Ihre Mutter?"

Roxas noted that Axel seemed reluctant to answer. Was this woman… his woman? "Nicht Brunnen. Sie…" Another pause, but somehow it seemed torturously long. "Terra hat mir geraten, an Begräbnis- Kosten zu denken…"

The woman took a sharp intake of breath. "Es tut mir leid…"

"Es ist nicht wie Sie gab ihr Verbrauch. So entschuldigen Sie sich nicht."

"Ich weiß aber…"

Axel stood up at this point; Roxas was only halfway down his tankard. "Ich möchte nicht über es sprechen." He took hold of Roxas' arm and lifted him up. "Come on Roxas. Let's go."

"But I-" Roxas stopped when Axel looked over to him; only an oblivious fool would be unable to see the pain and anguish that was clearly plaguing Axel right now. Roxas finally understood why Axel had been here at such a fortunate time.

Axel had come here to get drunk in order to forget something. Axel's hand was holding onto his arm tightly, guiding the young noble through the unruly crowd and leaving through the front door. Outside, there was a dark horse tied up at the hitching post waiting for them. "No doubt you can ride," Axel commented.

"I can sit on a horse," Roxas responded, going over to the horse and putting a foot into the stirrup. He yelped as he was suddenly pushed up onto the horse, Axel's large hand on his buttock.

"Oh don't be such a woman," Axel chided, pushing Roxas forward and patting his leg. "Make room. I need to get on too."

"Fine. I suppose the big strong man also has to drive the horse rather than let the 'woman' sitting in front do it too," Roxas commented bitterly.

"The big strong man can also tie you up and throw you over the horse's back if you'd rather do that." Roxas said nothing in response to that. "I thought so." Axel pulled himself up onto the horse, sitting close to Roxas that his chest was pressing to his back. The youth felt uncomfortable with this new position, somehow even more so than the times they shared a bed on the Ragnarok. Was it because now that he knew about Axel telling everyone that he was his woman that being this close felt strange? Roxas wasn't sure… he was angry with Axel for that but at the same time he felt annoyed that Axel had made the implication when he already had a lady waiting for him here, and a rather buxom eccentric one at that if it was who he thought it was. Roxas didn't speak again, just watching the cobblestones move under them as the horse's hooves clicked against them.

Why was he so annoyed at that anyway?

Naminé watched as her elder brother paced furiously back and forth across the floorboards, distracted from the book she had found earlier in her new room. Just before dinner, it was discovered by one of the maids that Roxas had disappeared, causing a huge search party to be sent out and for the remaining siblings to be locked inside the drawing room until he was found. Rex Pirata had ordered that. Fortunately, Terra had stayed behind to keep them company since he had been invited to dine with them. He was calm. Very calm. Ven sitting next to him was fidgeting in worry.

"Cloud…" Naminé started.

"I'll kill that little wretch if I ever get a moment with him," Cloud swore under his breath. He was agitated. "The little twit…"

"Could you abstain from killing him please Your Grace? Your brother is more useful alive than dead," Terra remarked.

"I don't take orders from a pirate," Cloud snapped.

"Then take orders from a doctor," Terra answered back smartly, raising an eyebrow at the blond. Cloud merely snarled and continued pacing. Terra sighed. "Honestly… why is it that Ven and Fraulein Naminé are so much more trusting than you two?"

"You're pirates and you've bewitched them!" Cloud retorted childishly.

"I won't deny the pirate accusation but I will deny the accusation for bewitchment. I'm a man of science, not of superstition."

Naminé sighed. It looked like Cloud was pretty much hanging his plan to show 'hearts of stone' to the pirates by arguing with Terra, but she supposed it was men like Terra that annoyed Cloud the most. He never really liked the calm and collected types after all, though for the life of her she didn't know why. She looked out of the window that she was sitting nearby and rose quickly to her feet. "Roxas!"

Ven was up like a shot to join her, staring out with wide eyes. There he was, sitting on a horse with Axel behind him, looking very much sullen. She felt so relieved to see her brother alive and well, though in her heart of hearts she truly believed that Roxas always intended to return here for them. They watched as Luxord and few of the manservants came out to collect him, followed by the Rex Pirata who then proceeded to lecture the young runaway. She also noted her new "companion" Riku had come back from his search of the grounds, smiling as his handsome features melted from worry to relief. "Thank goodness…" Naminé whispered.

"I'm glad he's okay," Ven murmured. "I wish… I wish I was around to stop him though… he might be a good escape artist but…"

Naminé just nodded her head. They knew that for all his talk and plans, their brother would be so horribly vulnerable. They all would be if they went along with his hare-brained escape plans, because he never thought in the long term. There was not a doubt in her mind that Roxas had been planning to commandeer or stowaway on a ship, but what would happen after that? They didn't know how to sail, and they didn't have much in the way of money, and they could turn up just about anywhere in the world. Even in Radiant Garden! That in itself could cause a diplomatic incident!

Though of course, their kidnap had probably already caused a huge furore across the known world by now.

The group had come in but Roxas was not brought to them. Luxord instead walked inside, bowing to them all. "Master Roxas is prohibited from seeing anyone except for manservants and maids who will take care of his needs," he reported. "He is to be locked up in his room under house arrest since he insists upon being treated like a prisoner. To quote the Rex Pirata." He then smiled charmingly to the remaining Strife siblings. "He also would like to know if anyone else would like to try his patience because he is more than willing to turn this comfortable abode into a hellish gaol."

No one answered. No one dared to answer. Terra stood up. "Well then, I think it'll just be the young escapee who is going to be treated like a prisoner. If that's all, I must be returning to my practice. I can't have Aqua worrying." He bowed slightly to them. "Gute Nacht."

"Sichere Reise," Luxord replied; Riku had just come to the drawing room, but then he helped to escort Terra out. Luxord smiled lightly to the siblings. "Well… I think that's enough excitement for one day. I'll be locking the house up for the night. Have a pleasant evening."

As the majordomo left, and her brothers dispersed soon after to mull over what had happened and the consequences, Naminé stayed in the drawing room, thinking. Would this stay be at all pleasant? She didn't know… she shifted uncomfortably. My corset isn't tight… she thought, her attention returning to her growing waist and her strictly controlled corsetry as a means of comfort. She then saw two boots come into her line of vision and she looked up. "Oh… Riku…"

"It's getting late, milady," Riku said calmly. "You should go to bed."

"I suppose," Naminé responded faintly. She stood up slowly. "Tell me Riku… our visitation, how long will it last?"

Riku pursed his lips, and then gave the answer Naminé feared the most. "I don't know."