Time travelled past by them within a blink of an eye. After the swimming incident, Allen and Lavi had integrated back to their usual schedule; at the break of evening, Allen would usually announce his presence with his tail or a small wave, and Lavi would excuse himself from his suspicious crew. Sometimes, Lavi would introduce his dinner to Allen, but the merman had no interest in cooked food whatsoever. Lavi taught Allen all about human technology and their impact to the environment while Allen returned the favor by telling stories of penguins and squids and whatever he had in mind. They shared tales and secrets they told nobody before, all the while hiding in their little corner like mischievous kids out for a midnight snack.
The Black Order crew was beside themselves. It was true that they were worried when Lavi had fallen into depression without prior notice, but then their beloved Captain had recovered from that gloom as fast as a whippersnapper. The sudden whiplash of emotions gave all of them a headache and they began to wonder whether Lavi was now in his right mind or were they going to experience yet another 180 degree mood swing soon?
Lenalee, bless her lovely soul, had taken to her Captain like sea sponges to corals. It was she who took the first step into finding out what had happened to her Captain, and it was she who stood in front of her Captain's cabin, hearing Lavi humming to the tune of '40 Bottles of Rum'.
"Come in!" Lavi had this uncanny sense to detect people's arrival. Lenalee was just as shock as everybody else at first when she had tried to sneak past a sleeping Lavi to go to a late night pub and got a growling, "Yer better back befo' sunrise or we leavin' without ya, ya rat snogger!"
Lenalee entered the largest cabin of Black Order and stood at attention. Captain Lavi was musing around as he paced his cabin, a hand cupped to his chin and the other tucked behind as a sign of deep thinking. But Lenalee saw the amusing smile on Lavi's face, so she wasn't all that worried of him...
That was until Lavi asked Lenalee in all seriousness, "Where do you think I can hide a large body in here?"
Lenalee blinked once, then twice. Then decided to go with her insane Captain's flow, "beside your bed but before your bedside table,"
Lavi chirped and looked at the designated spot with pure determination, "hmm... Ah, yes, I can picture it now! You're wonderful, Lenalee. What'll I do without you?"
Meanwhile, the Black Order crew was rounding the deck doing their common work. Some were playing cards (while Lavi wasn't around) and some were tightening the knots around the large ropes. Timothy was learning how to patch up a scarred wound with just a simple lighted match when he heard a strong tug from below, "Hey! We caught the fish!"
A row of bellows and confirmation echoed the open deck as the crew went into action. Every Tuesday was fishing day, especially when they heard that the area was filled with fat fish and crabs. The net they used was old and almost torn, but durable enough to hold a hammerhead shark if needed. As they pulled the giant net onto their ship, they marveled at the humongous amount of fresh fish.
And something else entirely.
The strong net broke under pressure and fish fell out of their trap, flapping and wriggling. But the crew stepped back in horror as something not a fish started to move about, looking as if it was lost in its surroundings. Then, somebody broke the silence, "MONSTER!"
"I'm fine, Lenalee. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Lavi assured his musician patiently as he started to push his furniture around. Now that he had space in his cabin, all he had to do was to find an aquarium large enough to keep Allen hydrated. Maybe a chest? Does Allen even need those sea plants to munch on?
"CAPTAIN! LAAAAVIIIII!" Timothy's crying voice snapped the both of them from their different thought worlds.
The young crew mate crashed into the cabin, panting and wheezing, "T-t-there's a monster! A monster on deck! K-Kanda's fighting it n-now!"
Lavi's heart gripped with fear. He grabbed his sword with one smooth move and raced to the deck without uttering a word. Please. Please. Please don't be-
On the deck, all his crew mates were shouting profanities and cheering with their fists and weapons in the air. Lavi pushed his way through, his breaths coming in pants like his lungs were constricting on themselves. Lavi's lungs weren't the real problem; his own heart was bursting in ache as he went closer, the familiar katana song that belonged only to one person sliced through Lavi's sensitive ears.
Then, he was thrown to the front to see the carnage. Time slowed down to a halt.
Blood was literally everywhere like it was water, dead and almost dead fish scattered the ground like human bodies. But Lavi didn't care about the small bodies, nor did he care about the God-awful stench that smelt only of blood and sea. His eye watered as he saw what lay before him;
Allen, lying on his side with new injuries that marred on his once pale skin.
The merman was panting loudly like his aquatic brethren that died beside him. His silver eyes became misty-like as the human swordsman came closer with that accursed sword, and Allen let out a warning growl. The weather turned darker in turn, the echo of thunder drummed the sky and the sea summoned massive waves that rocked the ship furiously. Allen could feel the thrum of his power, and all it took was a burst and-
"ALLEN!"
The merman snapped out of his stupor, hearing desperation in his name calling. Lavi pushed Kanda away and ran to the wounded Allen, not caring how the rough Captain looked like to his crew mates.
"L-Lavi..." Allen gasped, his breath coming out short. The injuries and pain came back with vengeance, and Allen whined helplessly.
"Ssh... It's alright, Allen. I gotcha. I got ya. Nobody's going to hurt you anymore," Lavi murmured softly, contrary to his usually gruff voice.
Lavi's clothes and skin was now drenched with blood and sea water, but all he cared about was the merman he held in his arms. Lavi winced as if he could feel Allen's suffering as he carried his best friend.
Allen's shaking arms hugged Lavi's neck as Lavi buried his face to Allen's messy head, "L-Lavi.. Take m'back-ocean,"
Lavi's legs moved automatically to the secret spot where they spent their nighttime together. His crew made way for the silent Captain, but Lavi took no heed whatsoever. There, Lavi whispered to Allen's ear sadly, "I'm sorry, my dear Allen,"
He dropped Allen into the welcoming ocean, and leaned at the edge to watch Allen's body sink deeper into the depths. Lavi couldn't think anymore, his mind and heart were unable to work as if they had followed Allen into the sea.
"Traitor!" His crew mates cursed, and Lavi was immediately captured.
He was put to chains and all but his pants were ripped away from him. Lavi growled half-heartedly and glared at the jeering crew mates, but he had neither strength nor spirit to break free of his restrains. It was plain mutiny for all to see, and Lavi fell apart both physically and mentally.
A fortnight devoid of food and shelter, First Mate Komui made the judgment upon the weakened Lavi. According to the laws of the sea and pirates, Captain Lavi of the Black Order was to be flogged 40 times without stopping.
Lavi didn't even move a muscle at his sentence. Only stood tall and emotionless, as was his Captain stance.
"You know, these sea creatures are evil, Lavi. Look at what that witch did to you!" Komui hissed, tying the knots to hold Lavi up.
With both his hands tied to either side of two large poles, Lavi spat at the ship floor and looked at his First Mate in the eye, "Allen is my best friend. And I trust him,"
Komui picked up on the advice he once gave his Captain, but shook his head sadly, "Then you shall suffer with that trust,"
As the ship's Quartermaster, Bookman came out with a big cat o' nine tails. It was a whip that was to be feared by all who disobeyed the laws. It was a long unwound rope whip of nine strands, this granting it the name cat o' nine tails. The ends were in tarred knots to give the criminal a more effective beating. Although the whip looked barbaric, the whipping barely led to death.
Lavi sorely chuckled. After 40 whips, they'll cover my raw skin with salt and vinegar to inflict additional pain and suffering. It's as if they think that I can suffer anymore deeper! Lavi tugged on the ropes that held him, but it seemed that he had taught Komui all too well in the art of knots. He didn't know whether to be proud or curse in this matter.
"Are you ready, Captain?" The graveling voice of Bookman called out from behind him.
Let it not be said that Lavi cried out for mercy and plea. After all that he had been through, he was still a pirate captain. Albeit, a broken hearted one.
He breathed in deeply and threw a wicked grin equal to his pirate position, "Do yor worst, ya bilge rat!"
And the countdown started.
The End
