Treasured

Chapter VII: En Route Vers le Sud

Disclaimer: Don't own. Not yet anyway.

A/N: If you're wondering, the chapter's title is in french and it means: Onwards to the South

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And they say that a hero can save us.
I'm not gonna stand here and wait.
I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles.
Watch as we all fly away

- Nickelback

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"Surrender and we will swiftly execute you! Fight and you will suffer!" Echoed the manly voice of the knight that stood bravely amongst the crowd of pirates. His royal clothes gleamed brightly in the sun giving justice to the knights of Artai, but his amateur hero-like posture which matched his attempt at an intimidating scowl made him look like a complete fool.

Shizuru of the South couldn't help but smile in amusement at his hollow threat.

The sorry pair of knights that stood close to their leader, Takeda, all brandished their swords menacingly at their enemies but did they really hope to accomplish much with only three knights? Amongst the little group of knights stood other familiar faces, Yuuichi Tate and Kazuya Kurauchi, both Takeda's right and left hand men.

The crew eyed the Artain men with mocking eyes and abruptly erupted in a fit of laughter and insults.

"Does he really think he can take us all on?! Bwahahaha!"

"What fools!"

Takeda seemed oblivious to the uproar as he pointed at Natsuki who stood idly beside the captain of the ship. His eyes sparkled and his mouth widened into a heroic grin. The knight was proud to stand before the numerous enemies while looking powerful and great. He surely hoped Natsuki was watching him- and she was much to his pleasure. Ignoring the irritation plastered on her face, she was probably very happy to see him. "Natsuki-sama. I have received your loving letter- a plea to be rescued! Here I am and I will vanquish thy enemy."

Natsuki's lips twitched. What letter? Moreover his failed attempt to sound poetic when he barely even knew how to read made it almost embarrassing to even look at him.

The gunner cast her eyes at Shizuru who chuckled at his monologue. "You wouldn't happen to have given Takeda a letter would you?"

"Ara, why would you think that? I am hurt." the woman smirked. That must have been Shizuru's way of saying yes to a little mischief. Natsuki had to admit she was smooth. The spark of irritation at her actions instantly faded.

"Tch, next time tell me when you're gonna drop people love letters using my name," the shorter girl sighed. She also wondered what Shizuru could have cooked up under her sleeves but she'd probably witness it sooner or later. The chestnut haired pirate was known to get right down to business.

"Ah, but it won't happen again. I'd rather save all the letters for myself," Shizuru gave Natsuki a wink before leaving her side. The gunner sighed ignoring the prickly hot feeling rising up in her neck.

As Takeda continued announcing his threats to the pirates who continued laughed at him, Shizuru walked towards the boy. The crowd of pirates immediately split in two leaving a path for the captain. Yuuichi took notice of this and tried to alert Takeda who had his eyes closed while reciting a, what seemed like a prepared, speech.

"I, Takeda or Artai, a proud royal knight serving under Nagi will become a legend after I slaughter you all. This sword bestowed-"

"Takeda-san," the captain tipped her black, fashionable pirate hat up so she could see him a little better. The simple mention of his name instantaneously shut the boy up. He stared intensely at Shizuru, his mouth thinning in anticipation. "Thank you for coming," she smiled graciously at the boys. Kazuya gulped. "Our boat was running out of supplies and due to our hurry we couldn't pick up provisions from your beloved land." She smiled innocently but there was a malicious glint in her eye. "Now would you be so kind to lend us some of your wares?"

Takeda's eyes narrowed. "W-what?"

Unlike his leader, Yuuichi had understood the pirate's plot. "So this was set up! You needed supplies and so you wanted a boat to come after you!" he growled, brows furrowing and grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Takeda-Taichou takes forever to decipher a letter, and you used it to your advantage." The boy smartly analyzed the pirate's plan of action out loud to let Takeda know of his idiocy in a polite way. "You knew he'd come a little later which would give you advantage and since Artai is far behind now. no reinforcements will come."

"Ara, ara. You make it sound as if it was well-thought out," Shizuru tapped lightly on the hilt of her own sword but didn't bother to unsheathe it.

"But it was…" the dirty blond knight argued. "As much as I hate admitting," he quickly added.

"You are hiding men to ambush us in your boat despite having the letter specifically mention Natsuki would rather just have Takeda-san rescue her," the captain stated. "I have not considered a smart man like you to stop your captain in time to accompany him. Surely you have brought other warriors on your boat to help you out, most likely your whole division." The pirate now dissected Yuuichi's plan in return, "although it seems that Takeda-san's heroic ways managed to foil part of your plan Yuuichi-san."

The knight sighed. Shizuru guessed right. What he originally planned- and hoped Takeda would follow along was a full-out, surprise ambush using all the infantry they had. Unfortunately Takeda gullibly believed the letter and ordered the other soldiers to stand down and await further order. Shizuru had won this strategic battle… but not if he changed it around right now.

"Men! Attac-"

"Tate-san!" A voice cut off the boy's battle cry as he immediately realized who it belonged to.

"M-Mai?!" Never had he thought Mai had come along with Natsuki's escape to abandon the country. Nor did he really notice with all the chaos. So she had picked the pirate side… and fighting the pirated would mean fighting his crush… Glancing at Shizuru's victorious smirk, the young knight dropped his sword to the ground in defeat. Shizuru of the South had to be the smartest strategist he ever encountered.


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"You sure are evil you know that?" muttered Natsuki as she eyed the humongous pile of goods consisting from food and water to clothes, weapons and gold. She even got to pick herself up new cartridges for her guns which she desperately needed. Gunpowder, and everything else necessary for a gun was also provided.

Shizuru gave her friend an innocent smile, "it's for the greater good. Besides, it's not like we killed them."

As if on cue, Takeda poked his head behind the pile and emerged completely dressed in more marine-like clothes. He held a bar of gold over his swollen eye. When Yuuichi had given up the headstrong leader refused to do the same and thus tried to attack Shizuru. He decided it was a bad idea to attack head on with a smart and strategic pirate after she expertly dodged his blow and returned a punch. He was a skilled knight hence his position as a leader but his forte lied in leading a blitz and not in one-on-one fights.

"Everything's been put on the boat Shizuru... taichou," grumbled the young boy as he gave thumbs up to Natsuki. Takeda grudgingly admitted defeat once the tip of a golden sword pointed at his neck, but he obviously gave in to such a lowering offer only because he had another plan… another plan Shizuru found quite evident. It was written all over his face when he smiled while putting up his hands to surrender.

The boy surely planned to get close to the crew, make friends, and then attempt his second rescue by attacking when she least expected him to. He probably watched one too many plays involving heroic deeds back at the Grand Artain Theatre.

"You sure letting everyone go but Takeda, Yuuichi, and Kazuya was a good idea?" Natsuki ignored the obvious hints Takeda was trying to give to her concerning a rescue.

"Yes, Nagi knows better than to pursue us. The knights here, mainly Yuuichi will serve as a second opinion when we need to plan out important missions."

The dark haired girl quirked her eyebrow. What did Shizuru mean by Nagi knowing better than to pursue them? She silently watched Takeda walk out of the storing room and onto the deck. The boy opted for lighter clothes since wearing his usual knight garments would shame Artai while allying with the pirates. As they exited the storage room and into a hall that led to the dorms of the crew the gunner then observed her surroundings. It was a clean place, hygienic as well which surprised Natsuki after she'd seen pirate boats before in Artai- the ones Nagi caught. They were all dark, dank, dirty and quite putrid but Shizuru's boat was the clean opposite. Somehow, the dark haired girl had a feeling this boat used to belong to the higher-ups from the South.

"So where are we heading to next?" she asked, contemplating whether she should change into a more pirate-like attire too for the sake of fitting in.

"The South. Father is probably worried about me." Shizuru replied while locking the door behind her.

Natsuki gave Shizuru a questioning glare, "Why? Hasn't he been the one who allowed you to be cast out?" Never had the dark haired girl ever considered the Duke of the South a bad man, but her opinions changed just recently. An honest man such as him, how could he have allowed the council to make such lies about his daughter?

Natsuki heard Shizuru give a sigh. Crap, had she offended her? To the shorter girl's relief, the captain grinned at her showing off her very white and perfect teeth. "If you paid more attention to your history lessons, then you'd know that the Council has overpowered the King. Now father is but a symbol to the country."

Feeling a rush of embarrassment, Natsuki tried to cover up for her lack of knowledge but became unable to when realization hit her in the face Natsuki felt her jaw becoming slack but she was too preoccupied realizing how Shizuru had grown from their childhood.

The captain of the ship bathed in the fresh sunlight that had just been delivered upon the travelers after the storm. It never occurred to her before how the young, cheery and graceful princess she had met years ago could grow into a beautiful woman. Her thoughts were too preoccupied with yesterday's event to notice her best friend's stunning new looks. Shizuru was almost glowing where she stood. Her long, elegant curls illuminated under the sunlight as the coat Natsuki had previously given her was tightly bound to her well-defined curves. Her creamy skin, so pure and void of any imperfection seemed almost unreal. Even her exposed neck was tempting to touch while her long and graceful legs seemed like the perfect finishing touch. Shizuru's face was a equally elegant and stunning, much too feminine for a pirate, and a captain at that but perhaps it was her uniqueness that made her so loved. Or her sheer beauty… and her great deeds as well. 'Shizuru might as well win a pirate-of-the-year trophy,' Natsuki thought to herself in amusement. She felt like an insect compared to her but the fact that the great Shizuru Viola Fujino of the South came to get her made her feel special enough. Moreover the ex-Artain even got to catch a glimpse of the top-less… not that it mattered. Not at all, why was she even thinking of such sinful thoughts about her best friend?

"Natsuki?" The captain of the South called out. Her eyes were slightly perplexed.

"Ah- yes?"

"I called you a few times but you didn't answer. Are you still feeling sick?" her worried voice made the dark haired girl inwardly curse at herself.

"No! No, not at all. I uh." Natsuki's eyes met crimson. They bore holes right through her. "Was just thinking… anyways how long will the trip last?"

Shizuru ignored Natsuki's attempt to cover up her obvious goggling, she had already embarrassed the girl enough, "It will take more than a week but we will stop by one of the small islands I managed to save just recently before. Chie here wants to visit someone in that island's town."

As if on cue, a woman who Natsuki presumed was Chie appeared at the door. She was quite boyish in appearance nonetheless held some cool-like grace in her composure. Her short hair swayed to her every movement as her tan skin made her seem like a real pirate. "Hey taichou, Raito-san needs to see you."

"Alright, I'll be right there. Can you do me a favour and introduce Natsuki to the crew?"

The gunner felt a little pang of anxiety as she watched the older woman leave. She never fared well with people and especially not when she was already in bad terms with some of them like that spiral girl.

"Well Natsuki it's quite nice to meet you. Shizuru's mentioned you quite a few times." Chie extended her hand as a welcoming gesture. The dark haired girl felt awkward shaking a pirate's hand but held her composure nonetheless like a professional would.

"It's nice to meet you too Chie-san," she could feel her voice drip in discomfort as she tried to sound as friendly as possible. The only people she really talked to were Mai and occasional others back at Nagi's castle.

"Hey don't sound so formal. We're not used to honorifics on the boat," the short haired girl grinned toothily at her while adjusting the bandana that kept her short hair neatly in place despite having loose ends sway in different directions. "Aight, well as you already know, my name is Chie and I'm in charge of the weaponry here." The girl, as if to demonstrate, showed Natsuki the sword that was attached to her hip. The gunner had to admit it looked quite cool with a large blade. "That's Shiho over there with the weird doll with a spinning head. She claims it to have some sort of powers but I wouldn't worry too much about it. She just wanders the deck that girl." They moved further down where some pirates were taking care of the sails. "The girl with the short hair is Mikoto. She's Reito-sama's little sister." Chie pointed at the other shorthaired girl, "that's Akane, she's kinda quiet but if there are boys around, she'll show off."

Natsuki wasn't quite sure what Chie meant by "show off" but she got it as soon as one of the boys that previously came to attack passed by. It was Kazuya. Akane flicked her hair carefully and walked towards Mikoto when she really didn't need to, pompously.

It was embarrassing to watch but what surprised the gunner was that Kazuya seemed to enjoy her attention and show of feminity.

"Gross." Natsuki muttered.

"Tell me about it," Chie sighed, "There's Reito-sama with Shizuru-taichou. Both of them are the brains of this ship but Shizuru comes with cunning battle skills too."

The blue-haired girl knew well what Chie meant by that. She witnessed it and fought against her already.

"And that's about it! We had six people in all before the arrival of the three new guys, Mai and you."

The gunner did a double take. That was it? She could've sworn there were more people aboard. It was a small crew but they were capable of so much…

"Hard to believe," the dark haired girl muttered again, "when Nagi caught pirates the crews always consisted of twenty pirates or more." Natsuki ignored Shiho's hostile glare from the other side of the deck.

"Yes and there are advantages to large crews but most captains don't care about who dies or who gets captured. Shizuru-taichou on the other hand makes sure everyone is well and healthy."

Natsuki noticed the proud tone Chie took as she explained how Shizuru never left anyone behind. Perhaps that's what made this pirate ship so successful. Mutual respect, trust and admiration for the captain.

The sky turned into a hue of red as the sun neared the horizon. Time had passed quickly when Natsuki managed to start a small conversation with Akane… or rather she had come to Natsuki for information about Kazuya. Soon, one by one, others jumped into the conversation and the gunner didn't feel as awkward anymore. Everyone except the boys had participated. Even Shizuru, who was particularly holding herself close to the oblivious gunner, managed to make the whole group laugh when she surprised Natsuki by blowing in her ear.
They had broken the ice… well excluding Shiho that is. The girl had threatened to give her a hell of a "spin", whatever that meant, when Natsuki labeled Yuuichi Tate as a moron. It was obvious the short, redheaded girl had already fallen under the charm of the knight.

Perhaps she'd enjoy being a pirate after all…


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It was becoming dark outside. One by one, stars appeared in the vast sky, the North Star being the brightest. The moon had already risen from the other side of the horizon and soon enough, reached its peak. Even at the speed the boat was moving at, the sliced wind remained gentle.

A dark figure watched the waves beneath make way for the large, wooden mass. She shifted her feet slightly and rested her arm in the nice hole her clawed fingers had dug up in the wooden hull of the boat. Her body expertly remained still against the firm wooden planks as she waited her hour to strike. She waited soundlessly on the side of the ship for a good fourteen hours.

The noise had died down to a mice's squeak inside the vessel. All the pirates must have retreated to sleep by now.

It was only when a particularly large cloud blot the moon from casting its dim rays of light that the girl slowly and silently moved up onto the boat's deck and into the shadows. Smirking to herself, the girl clad in the trademark bounty hunter guild clothing adjusted her claw gauntlets and peered around to make sure no one was around.

"An assassination as easy as this worth over sixty billion gold?" The girl chuckled. "Bounty Hunter Nao- moving out."


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A/N: Oh snaps, who's that? Nao of course. She makes her big debut hehe.

Again, I apologize for the time I take to update but the reviews made me faster this time, compared to the 6 month-wait you guys had to suffer for the last chapter.

Review!