Chapter 8:
It was the beginning of the third week at sea when Arthur finally got rid of the cargo taken from Kiku's ship. It was a small port town closer to India than Arthur had wanted but he was running out of options by then. Yuri and Kiku had taken back their traditional kimono wear, something Arthur found he didn't mind. The kimonos looked better on the native Japanese than on his crew, anyways.
The third week was also about the time Arthur realized his feelings for Kiku.
He hadn't been in love for so long, it took him a bit to recognize the feeling, but when he did it hit him like a gunshot to the chest.
He thought it was just being watchful of his prisoner at first. Kiku was to be near him 24/7, Kiku wasn't allowed near the crew without Arthur watching, Kiku had to tell him whenever he left the cabin. . . Arthur watched him do everything with emerald colored hawk eyes, noting the paleness of Kiku's skin, how it was like porcelain without mar or wrinkle. The way his dark eyes darted over the books Arthur had and the way his long thin fingers turned the pages like they were sheets of gold; his neck was long and elegant, his hair like liquid midnight and the small smiles he let slip when he came across an amusing part of the story were like a blessing from the heavens. Arthur would often invite Kiku to read aloud, only to hear his voice. Arthur realized he loved Kiku when Yuri came in to check on him. Their small, flitting touches never really bothered him before. They would speak in Japanese, too rapid for Arthur to follow after such a long time, and would brush each other. Arms, torso, neck, head, face . . . gentle and heartbreaking caressing, that showed a bond Arthur could never touch. As always, his first mate, Alfred, followed behind. As soon as Yuri learned all she could about the ship, she stopped being the puppy that followed Alfred without a leash. The positions reversed instead, and sometimes Arthur was left wondering who his first mate was really. Yuri had become such a familiar sight that he couldn't muster enough energy to hate her on sight. But that day, as Kiku rested his hand on her waist with the other cupping her cheek, rage boiled up in Arthur's veins and the heavy chair clattered back as he stood. Startled, the three looked at him, and Yuri stiffened immediately. Almost unconsciously, she stepped in front of Kiku, acting as a human shield. At that Arthur froze, wondering why he had gotten so possessive and angry.
Then it hit him.
"Tino-" he croaked, then cleared his throat and shouted, "TINO GET ME WATER. NOW!" The sound of footsteps faded outside Arthur's door and her glared at the people assembled. "All of you leave. Yes, you too Kiku, get fresh air or something." As they shuffled out, with many confused glances, Arthur collapsed back into his chair. Tino came with a jug of water and left after a glare from Arthur. Alone at last, he wrinkled his nose at the water and fetched the brandy he had been saving for a special occasion. With only a moment's hesitation, he ripped off the red wax seal and took a big swallow. He stumbled back onto his cot, and took another gulp.
"This is just bloody great." He muttered, "I'm a bloody fool, a bloody fool!" He tilted the bottle all the way back, nearly a quarter of the high-end brandy gone and a veil of drunkenness covering his eyes.
"Falling in love with a prisoner . . . That doesn't happen in real life."
Another sip.
"Damn it all."
It was near midnight when Kiku finally crept back to the cabin he shared with Captain Kirkland. He had spent the rest of the day with Yuri, playing old children's games with her like they hadn't done in years. They had a competition of tongue twisters, something Yuri was horrible at despite being fluent in several other languages. At first, Kiku thought she was just pretending to be bad, but faced with English tongue twisters that Alfred iterated, she failed just as miserably. He and Alfred had quite the time teasing her about it, but they stopped when she punched the mast and left an imprint of her fist in it. Kiku was surprised that Yuri had earned respect from the crew and knew their names. Apparently, stories about her had spread from the time in Shanghai. Although Kiku sincerely doubted that there was a real dragon fighting with the Chinese, most of the stories matched with what Kiku knew Yuri was capable of. So he came back to the cabin with a grin on his face, thinking about the stories that had been traded. Then the smell registered.
"Kami . . ." he hissed, "Nioi yo." Then he saw Arthur, fast asleep on the pallet Kiku normally used. The Brit had his face buried in the pillows and blankets, all bundled up like a silk worm in a cocoon. His face held a healthy blush and judging from the bottle beside him, he had been drinking. With a sigh, Kiku crouched by his childhood friend turned captor. With Arthur unconscious on his bed, Kiku wondered how he would sleep. Maybe wake Arthur up and make him go to his bed? Kiku shook his shoulder, gently at first, but harder when the man wouldn't wake. Instead, Arthur just rolled out of the blankets, squishing them under his body. The captain was naked except for a pair of atrocious Union Jack underwear he wore for bed. Kiku tried not to stare at Arthur's toned chest.
"Kiku . . ." Arthur breathed and the Japanese man froze, wondering if he woke or not.
"Arthur?" he asked softly, "Are you awake?"
The blond muttered, his brow crinkling, and his hand reached out. Automatically, Kiku grabbed it with his own hand, squeezing it to reassure the Englishman. The creases in his face relaxed, a slight smile on his face and Kiku felt his heart squeeze. He didn't know this prickly pirate could make such an expression. It was mainly scowls and smirks he doled out around the ship. Then Arthur rolled away.
With a yelp, Kiku went with the movement, and was soon crushed to Arthur's chest, locked there with the pirate captain's arms around him. Immediately, Kiku started squirming.
"Arthur, let me go! Arthur! Hey! Okimasu! Onegai!" Although Arthur's arms did relax, Kiku couldn't escape without ending up in several awkward positions that he might not be able to shift out of. God forbid if Arthur woke up during one of them. With a sigh, Kiku relaxed against the Brit, snuggling into his warmth. Undoubtedly, Kiku could maneuver his way out of Arthur's arms, but he was tired, and this was his bed. He had as much as a right to sleep here as Arthur did. Besides, sleeping beside someone was something he hadn't done in a while. It would be . . . nice . . . even if his partner smelled like brandy and not like lilies as Yuri did. The decision made, Kiku fell asleep quickly, resting in Arthur's arms.
The next morning, Arthur woke with a splitting headache. He regretted drinking all of that brandy. It was good stuff too . . . but most of it was wasted when he kept drinking after he was far gone. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he froze at the sight that greeted him.
Calmly asleep and completely defenseless was Kiku Honda, using Arthur's arm as a pillow. Shocked to wakefulness, Arthur looked with wide eyes as the man, and realized that their legs were entwined. Moving only when he needed to, he flexed his muscles and felt a fire where his body came in contact with Kiku's. Leg's entwined, an arm around each other's waist and so close that Arthur could smell the faint scent of the sea and chrysanthemum on Kiku.
He really didn't want to move.
Arthur was content to lay there with Kiku for the rest of the morning. He let his eyes drift closed again, when he heard a creak and the door opened. Arthur's eyes flashed open and he scrambled to sit up, waking Kiku in the process. Tino stood in the doorway, a tray full of food in his hands. His eyes were wide and his jaw slack.
"You-" he began, and Arthur forced himself to face his cabin boy. "Did you use lube, at least?"
A/N: Oh, Tino, wasn't that a bit blunt for these two? Ah ha ha ha . . . ha . . . Well, besides that, I'm so sorry it took so long, but somethings had to be done and I did them so now I'll try not to leave things undone as long as last time.
