Wowzers, it's been a while. But thanks to my internet going down, I got to update several fanfics, including this one, and was even able to start up others. Anyhoo, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"So what would you like to know?" Kiku asked Alfred as they gazed out at the sea.

Alfred took a deep breath of the fresh sea air before saying,"Um, how'd you become a part of the crew?" Alfred figured he might as well start with a simple question.

"Captain Kirkland was in dire need of a navigator. I knew my way around these waters fairly well thanks to my older brother so I figured I'd take up the job." Kiku explained.

Alfred liked that answer. He was expecting to hear something along the lines of Kiku being kidnapped and forced to work on the ship. He was happy to hear that that wasn't the case. He would have given Arthur a piece of his mind had he done so.

"Okay. How many people consist of the crew?" Alfred asked.

Kiku thought to himself for a few brief seconds before saying,"About ten or so." It wasn't the largest pirate crew to ever exist but it was decently sized. They had who they needed and nothing more.

"That's not too bad. I figured he'd have more but I actually think it's better this way." Alfred contemplated.

Kiku scrunched his face in confusion. "How is it better? Not that I'm really disagreeing, but I can't help but wonder why you think so." the Japanese pirate said.

"Well, you know, just in case I have to fight my way out of here." Alfred said nonchalantly.

That was definitely not what Kiku had expected to hear. But he supposed it was understandable. He couldn't help but wonder though as to how Alfred could possibly accomplish something like that.

"Uh, how would you be able to escape. And if it's not too much to ask, why do you want to escape?" Kiku asked curiously.

Alfred looked at the pirate like he was crazy. "Why wouldn't I want to escape? I was knocked out by the guy that raised and left me alone as a child. Why in the world do you people not understand that I might be a little pissed at being here?"

Kiku was slightly taken aback by this but now he understood why Alfred said those words. He might be a pirate, but that didn't meant he couldn't help but feel at least a little compassion for the younger man.

"I understand." was all Kiku said.

They both sat in silence for a few minutes before Alfred finally spoke again. "Okay. I hate awkward silences. Next question: Is Iggy a good guy?" Alfred asked.

Kiku looked at Alfred like he had grown a second head. "Who's 'Iggy'?" Kiku asked.

"Iggy is Arthur. Duh. Who else would it be?" Alfred said before laughing. Was he the only one that ever called the British man that name?

"Oh. I see. Well, I don't think I can really tell you whether he is a good guy or not." Kiku said awkwardly.

Alfred scrunched his face in slight exasperation. "Fine. Then tell me whether he's killed people." Alfred demanded. It was a question Alfred desperately wanted to know and it would also help to answer his last question.

He frowned though as Kiku didn't answer him right away. But the Japanse man couldn't help it.

He was conflicted as to what he should possibly say to Alfred. He was told to tell the truth but he couldn't help but feel that his Captain would be mad if he did though and quite possibly keel-haul his behind if he did. So saying he was conflicted would probably be an understatement.

"I don't think I'm at liberty to tell you." Kiku answered uncertainly.

Alfred, though, took that as a sign that Arthur had indeed killed people before. It was to be expected though. A person probably couldn't get to the level that Arthur is at without getting a little blood on his hands at least.

Alfred didn't like that little fact but he supposed he could live with it. For all he knew, the man had no choice but to kill someone.

It eased his mind some, but he still felt a little restless at hearing this.

"You practically just answered my question anyways." Alfred said before laughing hesitantly. But he couldn't really help it. He had been feeling comfortable and all that only a few short minutes ago, but when he brought up whether Arthur killed anyone, he just grew nervous.

Have a few more moments of utter silence, Alfred asked yet another question. "You probably know Arthur better than I do right now, so tell me this: Do you think Arthur will let me and my brother go once he gets his stupid map?"

Kiku looked at the teen thoughtfully before gazing out at the vast sea once again. He knew Arthur rather well, sure, and already knew what his answer would be, but how could he word this in a way taht wouldn't make Alfred even more bitter than he already was.

Alfred didn't exactly show it, but Kiku could tell he was still very bitter about the whole situation. The teen put up a good facade, but it was quite obvious something was wrong.

Kiku could tell that Alfred really was trying to understand Arthur and the rest of the pirates, but it was just difficult for the teen to really comprehend at the moment. The Japanese man couldn't help but commend the teen though for at least trying.

"He does regret what he did to you so long ago," Kiku started off gently,"But I don't believe he intends to let you go so easily. He'd probably be okay with letting your brother go, but you are the one he wants to keep."

At hearing this, Alfred cried out in frustration. He was practically screwed no matter what? He was starting to wonder if someone upstairs seriously hated him.

"He's caused enough damage already. Can't he just let it go and just leave me and my brother be?" Alfred groaned.

Kiku smiled sadly at the teen before saying,"He feels compelled to make it up to you. He just didn't count on you being so mad." That made Alfred laugh at least a little.

"Yeah. I suppose he didn't." Alfred chuckled a few more seconds before letting it die off awkwardly.

"Do you think I stand a chance of escaping at least?" Alfred asked after a few minutes of even more awkward silence.

Kiku immediately shook his head. "It would definitely not be easy. And even if you were able to get away, he'd hunt you down again and drag you right back." These words greatly disheartened the once hopeful teen.

"So I should just stay here, with Arthur, for the rest of my god damn life? I won't ever be allowed to leave or start a family of my own?" Alfred asked.

Kiku's sad smile faltered before he sighed deeply. "I don't know." was all Kiku could think to say.

"Great. That's...that's just great. I'm pretty much screwed then, huh?" Alfred asked in exasperation. He felt like was going to have some sort of spaz attack and by the looks of it, Kiku realized this too.

"He can't keep you forever. Sooner or later he's going to realize he can't keep you like this. Just hold out a little longer. Besides, he might surprise you." Kiku said in an attempt to make the teen feel better. His words, for the most part, were true. But the pirate knew all too well how stubborn Arthur could be. Letting Alfred go could take years upon years.

Kiku seriously doubted Alfred would be able to stand it that long. He was harely handling it now.

"Just get to know him." Kiku said before staring off into the distance of the sea once again. He didn't really know what else to say so he did what he did best: Staying silent.

Alfred didn't usually like silence, but he felt it was necessary to have at that point. If they talked anymore then Alfred would have a full blown spaz attack.

He definitely did not want that to happen and so he attempted to keep himself calm. Perhaps staring at the open ocean would help to calm his nerves? Well, it was worth a chance at least. It's not like he could do anything else at the moment.

Once Alfred was able to calm his breathing at least, he let his crystalline blue wander to the rolling waves that were beating the ship at the moment.

The sight that laid before him plus the soft breeze helped Alfred relax gradually with each passing minute. It was nice to say the least. He supposed that if he was indeed forced to stay with Arthur then he wouldn't be too mad considering this sight was rather beautiful.

He definitely felt better after thinking of that. Maybe staying with Arthur for a few years wouldn't be too bad.

But then again, pirates lead dangerous lives. Maybe staying with Arthur wouldn't actually be a good idea. He knew he was pretty strong and fully capable of holding himself in a fight, but fighting with other pirates and even the military would be a whole other story.

He really just wanted something to take away all the anxiety he was feeling at the moment. Something that would make him temporarily forget the situation he was in.

He felt really horrible for letting this good conversation with Kiku make him so upset.

Please, someone or something please come save us both from this uncomfortable situation. Alfred thought to himself as he looked up at the blue sky with pleading eyes.

As if to answer his silent prayer, Gilbert popped out of nowhere and slung his arm over Alfred's shoulder. "Hey, how's it going? Kiku isn't boring you to death, is he?" Gilbert said teasingly while nudging Kiku with his other hand.

The Japanese man cast the German a sideways, irritated glance before breathing deeply so he could calm himself.

"Oh, uh, he's not boring at all. It's been really interesting talking with him." Alfred said also in an attempt to calm Kiku down. It seemed to work too as he noticed Kiku give him a thankful look out of the corner of his eye.

"Well, that's good. Now, I have a question for you: Have you ever drank before?" Gilbert asked with a smirk.

Kiku narrowed his eyes at the German man and said,"Don't do it. He's not old enough."

Gilbert completely ignored that man though and motioned for Alfred to answer his question. "Well, duh. I can't exactly live without drinking." Alfred said while looking at Gilbert like he was an idiot.

Gilbert didn't quite get what Alfred was saying, but Kiku seemed to and within seconds he was making one of his well known facepalms.

"He meant drinking alcohol." Kiku supplied.

A look of realization crossed Alfred's face as what Gilbert said finally sunk in. Now he really felt like an idiot. He attempted to salvage the situation though by saying,"I knew that."

Gilbert smirked at the naivety of the teen.

"Sure. Whatever you say. So have you ever had alcohol or not?" He seriously doubted the teen had ever even had a drop of the golden liquid, but he figured he'd ask just in case.

"Well, not really." Alfred said uneasily.

Gilbert eyed the teen suspiciously. "Why not? Don't most teens like to go get drunk or something these days?"

Alfred shook his head. "Not me. As you have probably seen, I have a sick brother. Why waste money on alcohol when I could use it to get Mattie more medicine?" Alfred explained. Well, Gilbert supposed that was rather logical.

"Wanna try it?" Gilbert asked with fake innocence.

Kiku rolled his eyes. This was more than a common occurence so he tried not to think much of it. But he liked Alfred and didn't want Gilbert to mess the teen up too much.

"Don't do it, Alfred. You'll regret it." Kiku warned. He couldn't physically stop Alfred, but he could at least warn him.

Alfred decided he better listen to Kiku and was about to turn Gilbert's offer down but stopped when he caught sight of Arthur walking their way. Maybe Arthur would save him from having to decline the offer and not let Alfred look like a wimp.

That wasn't the case though.

"What'll your answer be, Alfie?" Arthur asked teasingly. That was definitely not what Alfred was expecting his former caretaker to say. He couldn't help but mentally curse the big-eyebrowed man.

"If it helps your decision, then how about we make a deal?" Arthur asked.

Alfred eyed the man skeptically but said,"What is it?" Arthur smirked at this. Lord, his challenge with Francis was going to be too easy.

"Let's have a drinking contest. Just you and me. If you win then I'll let you punch me in the face. But," Arthur was cut off by Alfred. The teen was about to agree almost immediately but Arthur cut him off with,"But, if I win then you have to give me a kiss."

Alfred almost looked horrified at the thought. "What?! Why in the world would you want that?" Alfred yelled.

Arthur merely shrugged. "Your boyish features really suit my tastes." the pirate captain side before running one finger across Alfred's cheek in an almost seductive manner.

Almost, anyways. Alfred couldn't help but blush madly. And not in the way Arthur would have liked.

Alfred was conflicted as to what he should say. He had no idea if his tolerance for alcohol was very high or not. He wasn't even particularly sure if Arthur's was very low for that matter. Well, he supposed there was only one way to find out.

"Fine. I accept."

Well, it felt a little rushed to me towards the end, but that's my opinion. I suppose I can fix that when I re-edit. Well, please tell me what you think. I promise that the next update won't take that long to be written again.