"Sora's already told the crew about everything with you! So don't worry you'll see not all of us on board are crazy homicidal criminals! We're more like a big and happy family than anything!"

Riku was completely in the right when he took Roxas's words with a grain of salt.

It had only been five days since he'd been plucked off of his own royal ship on his way to Traverse Port Island for his studies and onto the ship Kingdom Heart, the boat of the most insane and lowly pirates around.

Everything that happened on the boat made him want to do a barrel roll over the edge and fall straight into the raging waters beneath.

Although everyone he spoke to was relatively harmless, aside from mockery, it still made Riku want to punch them in the face as hard as he could. The toothless, scarred young men of the crew had a tendency to wolf whistle both his and Kairi's way whenever the two were walking together whether it be up on deck, in the dining hall, or under in the room halls. It was irritating and Riku was always ready to give them snarky look but he could never truly formulate words or physical actions due to Kairi holding him back.

That was also how Riku actually got to meet Axel. The red head had popped up out of seemingly nowhere, decked one of the young men in the face and then claimed they needed to leave the 'ladies' of the ship alone.

Riku also met with Terra and Namine. Two more crew members of the ship. Riku had learned that Namine was Aqua's younger sister. Riku also found it strange that Kairi and Namine looked very similar. The difference slightly in there appearance and hair color. Terra on the other hand was the ship's self entitled 'strong man.' Which was a very true title indeed. Walking outside on the deck one day, he saw Terra carry four barrels stacked on top of each other like it was nothing. Riku couldn't help but be amazed by that.

Kairi found amusement and gratitude in the rescue from the fit young man who had introduced himself to both of them rather charmingly after.

Riku did not.

As everyone else, Axel didn't look like he belonged on a pirate ship. In fact, he was attractive enough to pass as nobility, not that Riku would have ever told him that especially given the small detail that Axel had the strange ideology that Riku was having sex with Sora every night.

That strange little rumor appeared to be circulating around the ship a bit too much for Riku's liking.

At breakfast, Roxas would ask if Riku wanted the seat with the cushion before Sora cam for it, Axel would make the most uncalled for jokes and sexual innuendos whenever Riku and Sora happened to be in the same area, even Aqua remained as blunt as ever, casually inquiring if Sora was as rough as she thought he'd be in bed.

Riku was glad to say that with the four nights that had by since he found himself onboard the Kingdom Heart that as far as he knew, Sora was never once in the bed with him.

At night, he went to bed alone, he woke up in the middle of the night alone, and he woke up alone.

If Sora didn't sleep was debatable, but Riku never bothered to ask because to be frank he didn't really care.

It was a blessing to not have to share a bed with him.

Though it was a curse because it seemed that during the day, Sora wanted everything to do with him.

Riku was literally forced to follow him around on the ship practically all day while his collar's leash was held at the ready and Sora went about his daily Captain duties; checking maintenance, out watching the waters, writing in his study.

He was told that he'd adjust well, and even if five days wasn't much compared to the apparent lifelong sentence he was going to be submitted into, he knew he'd never adjust.

Riku couldn't handle a lifetime of this.

He certainly didn't plan on handling it either.

To be honest, his plan of befriending Roxas would have probably gone way smoother and faster if Sora wasn't constantly dragging him around pointlessly. Riku only had time to talk to the First Mate of the ship in the morning before Sora came for his breakfast and in the evening about an hour or two after dinner when Sora finally decided to let go of his leash.

What a wonderful lifetime he had up ahead.

"You know, I'm really beginning to wonder if 'partially free' is even suitable enough to describe myself." Riku dryly voiced out to Sora as he warily watched the younger man continuously write at his desk. His expression was thoroughly focused as it usually was whenever Riku was within the study with him.

In all honesty, it was a bit weird to think about how for a pirate, Sora was even able to read and write. Most couldn't even write their names.

Sora didn't pause his script; his eyes still remained on the paper as he spoke, "Interesting." His tone was loose and far off, almost as though he weren't even truly listening.

If Riku didn't know any better, he'd say he wasn't. Spending so many hours with Sora in only so many days gave Riku a small perspective of the captain's little habits.

He was as vigilant as a lion on the prowl even when he didn't seem to be.

Scowling, Riku folded his arms over his chest, "You can't say it isn't true. Ever since I've gotten on this damn ship, you've been taking me everywhere with you aside from the fucking toilet. I don't know about you, but that isn't freedom in the slightest."

Sora's fingers briefly halted from their writing, and at this moment Riku found himself staring back at the captain's bright blue eyes solidly while Sora watched up at him plainly, "I think our definitions of freedom aren't equivalent."

"You think?" Riku sarcastically mumbled, his eyes darting toward the door with furrowed eyebrows. "God, I feel like I'm wasting my soul with each moment I'm in here."

Now, Sora was lifting his head up, his back leaned more comfortably on his chair while he evaluated Riku, which certainly was different considering how he usually didn't give Riku much mind when he spoke, and instead kept working without much else aside from conversation.

His usual red and gold overcoat that he wore while out on deck was set on the back of his chair, leaving only his white undershirt, and his red scarf. That scarf was actually the only thing that made Sora looked non-pirate couldn't but wonder why he'd always wear that scarf around him, even if it made him less threatening. His white undershirt which was only buttoned up toward the bottom allowing for his chest to be out and exposed, on along with his usual dark blue pants that were as usual, tucked into his thick brown boots.

Pirating wear appeared like way too much show in Riku's opinion.

With all the detail put into the captain's coat, he wondered who the hell the pirates were trying to impress.

The fish for when they were stabbed and chucked overboard?

"I'm assuming you were more productive back in your palace in Radiant Garden?" Sora arched a brow upward in what seemed to be genuine curiosity.

That was certainly a different emotion from the usual jeering that he received from him.

Shrugging, Riku stood more erect, "I guess. I studied a majority of the time and though it may not be productive to you, education is important and better than just standing and watching someone write useless notes and journal entries."

Sora cringed his nose, clearly not appreciative to Riku's choice of words, not that the royal cared, "I'm aware of how important education is, thank you very much Your Highness." He rested his chin on his hand, "Though I suppose out on the ship there are more important things for you to do aside watch me write 'useless notes'."

The silverette snorted, "I can bet you that there is. Hell, I could be making friends or something." His threw out what first came to mind carelessly.

"Making friends? I thought you hated everyone on this ship." Sora cracked a smile of obvious mirth.

"You should really stop thinking," Riku tsked, "You might hurt yourself. Not to mention, you keep thinking wrong. I mean, my opinion of free is not being cooped up with you all day long. Being free gives me the liberty to walk around and do as I please before the sun sets."

Instantly, Sora cleared his throat, "Well, it must really be unfortunate to be you. You are the captive and I am the captor. The freedom I give you is a privilege, not a right. So I'm sorry to say, but you're stuck in here until I say others."

"You're not sorry." The Prince immediately retorted with a huff, he was getting agitated that Sora was making this so difficult when it really didn't need to be.

"No, I'm not actually. I was just trying to be polite, you know? Save face? Tell lies to another's face with a smile on my lips?" Sora quirked a brow with a rather serious expression pointed Riku's way, "You should know all about that, considering how you're royalty. Tell me, Your Highness, how many faces have you lied to with a fake smile on your face just to save your own ass? Or better yet, how many people has your father lied to?"

Hearing the edge beginning to heat up the silverette's words, Riku found his own annoyance rising upward. Not afraid he we growled lowly, "You keep my father out of this! He has zero to do with this conversation!"

Sora's eyes narrowed, "I can bring whoever I want into whatever conversation I want. Your father actually has everything to do with this conversation because I can assure you; if it wasn't for him I would have killed you by now."

Each word came out exceptionally smooth and easy and one look into Sora's eyes told Riku that he wasn't lying.

Pushing back any feeling of fear from this side of the captain that he never truly seen before, Riku grunted with clenched fists, "That's odd. Last I checked this conversation was about freedom not about my life or my father!"

"Okay, first I want you to think about all the shit your precious daddy has put on the lower Radiant Garden class and then repeat that sentence of yours in your head before you understand how fucking dumb that sounded." Sora seethed out coldly, catching Riku instantly in surprise at how similar the sentence sounded.

Oh, irony with that sentence. Sora's memory was really on point.

But aside from that, Riku could honestly say he was left speechless as Sora kept his murderous glare over him,

In truth, he couldn't reply because he didn't understand what his father had to do with his life or freedom.

Just like that, there was a rapid knock on the door and both Sora and Riku found their attention drifting towards it.

"Captain! Rouge ship rapidly approaching!"

Sora was instantly at the alert as he stood to his feet, "Another pirate ship?" He calmly inquired right after his reply was met, "Yes! We should be within distance in five minutes or less!"

"We're that fucking close and they decide to tell me now? Idiots" Sora groaned out in annoyance as he reached to grab his coat from his chair.

While he began fixing over his back and speed walking toward the door, he gave Riku a simple look, "Your freedom. That's all you fucking care about. You're as selfish as practically all the upper class on those fucking islands. You only care about yourself and the second you get a simple taste of what you've been dishing out to millions for generations, you cry about it. It's fucking pathetic. Don't even think about leaving the room. I'm sending someone in to watch you."

"What—"

Slam!

"Is that even supposed to mean!" Riku shouted in frustration as the door was slammed.

Groaning into his hands he moved toward the wall before he gave his forehead a repeated tap on it.

Outside the door, he could hear the frantic stomps and exclamations from the crew as the rouge ship apparently moved in closer.

Christ, Sora was impossibly annoying.

What the hell did his dad have to do with any of this? Being selfish?

It made no sense whatsoever.

Though it sounded similar to the case of hatred toward the Crown. It shouldn't be much of a surprise that Sora did considering the fact he was pirate captain. Riku didn't care.

He was still alive and he was going to be living for a while.

A while long enough to get off the ship and get back to London.

Sora was just showing himself to be more and more of a cunt as time went on, which was expected.

"You alright there, buddy?"

Riku halted from his head banging to turn to the now opened door.

The blonde that Riku was able to recollect in his memories as Ventus or was it Roxas? Riku was still confused about them shyly smiled as he stuck his head into the room.

Over the course of the five days, this boy in particular was seemingly nowhere to be seen. Riku couldn't really remember catching him at breakfast or dinner or anywhere whenever he was walking around with Sora…

Though before, on his first day on the ship, his memory of the guy was still clear.

Riku slowly nodded as he pulled away from the wall, a scowl on his face while blonde closed the door behind him.

"As alright as I can be when I'm being held captive." He replied with a sigh.

Ventus laughed lowly, "Roxas and Axel told me you weren't adjusted yet."

"Oh so you're Ventus and not Roxas."

"You're still confused about us. Well let me break it down to you the difference between me and Roxas. Firstly Roxas has dirty blonde hair as oppose to my beautiful golden locks. Secondly Roxas's hair spikes to the left as oppose to mine's that spikes to the right. And lastly my appetite is about three times as large as Roxas's. Got that?" He explained.

"Yeah I guess..." Riku said quietly.

"So continue on about what you were saying."

"Be honest, if you were in my position wouldn't you be the same?"

Cracking a grin, he put his hands into his pockets with a shake to his head, and with such an expression on his face he looked vastly innocent. His features appeared younger than Riku assumed they were and the royal found that sense of déjà vu coming over him once more as he squinted at the young man.

He and his brother really seemed familiar.

"Have I seen you or your brother before somewhere before?" He automatically asked, easily putting Ventus's smile to an end as he sheepishly glanced away with a cough into his hand, "You're a prince. I'm a pirate. I doubt you have."

Realizing how stupid he just made himself sound, Riku gave a short awkward smile, "My mistake."

"Haha, it's okay! I'm Ventus by the way!" He gave a slight bow,

Riku watched the gesture in mild amusement, partly due to the fact that as opposed to the sloppy-jeering bows and curtsies he'd seen since his arrival onboard, Ventus's bow was actually spot on. Clapping once, the silverette nodded, "Riku VanSinclair."

The blonde laughed, "Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

"I'm sure it is." Riku scoffed causing Ventus to smile broadly, "I've never got to properly meet you before you know, but I heard a lot about you! Like according to Sora you're like a cat! All mean and stand-offish but you're actually super cute and cuddly when you go to sleep! Oh man, speaking of cats have you ever eaten a cat before? I remember a couple months ago I accidentally ate one because Axel lied and said it was chicken. It tasted kind of like chicken but when he told me the truth I freaked out, because cats aren't meant to be eaten, not like chicken. I love chicken so much. Don't you? Does Royalty even eat chicken? If you don't that must be a sad life, like whoa!"

Riku could only stand in astonishment as his ears were bombarded with a wave of words as the loud blonde continued on with his words obliviously.