And hyah, is the next chapter. Enjoy.


"I don't have any plans to escape, Mello." The silver-haired boy assured strongly as the Captain dragged him along the crowded deck and into his quiet quarters.

"Well, no, not anymore, Near." Magnificent blue orbs rolled in their sockets, clearly annoyed, and pushed the boy onto the soft bed. "Let's see…" He grumbled to himself pulling open all sorts of drawers, eyes searching for something. "Where are they-? Ah, here they are." Rusted handcuffs dangled from his hands as he suspended his newfound prize in the air.

"I don't like those." Near said, scrambling backwards on the bed as Mello stalked towards him.

"I don't care. Hands." He ordered, but when Near hid his hands, he grabbed two pale arms and cuffed two wrists above a silvered head on the bedpost. "Now, I'll be back." He wiggled his fingers in a sweet wave.

With that, he turned and thudded out, leaving an irritated boy locked to his bed frame.

Near glowered at the door, huffing out an angry sigh that pushed his bangs away from his eyes, silently wondering how long he was going to be here.

Mello smiled as he stared at the upcoming land, he needed a quite few things before they could even find this special treasure. He was ready for some action as well.

Then he remembered Matt, Matt loved to visit land, even though he was a sea dog at heart.

Why wouldn't he let Matt go on land this time? His best friend. They usually had so much fun together. What happened? Well, for one thing, Matt is acting like a no good rotten pirate again… Mello thought bitterly.

He slowly felt himself recalling how they ended up as pirates in the first place………

~Matt and Mello made one amazing team, anyone who stood in their path was shot down. No one dared go up against the dangerous duo. Back to back they'd be against the world, and together they brought up the Sea's toughest pirate crew, going against all odds.

They grew up together, on a small farm, never near the sea, but when their fathers would travel to town, they'd hide underneath the old raggedy carriage, emitting boyish giggles whenever they went over a rough bump. When their fathers reached the city, they'd take off, racing each other, neck in neck until they reached the shore, the boys would then discard their scuffed shoes and splash in the water, darting between wooden canoes, sometimes stealing one for themselves and paddling with their hands happily. They would steal splintery timbered swords and play pirates all day long until dark pressed upon them heavily and they ran around crying until a friendly sailor would take them home. Angrily pounding on their parent's old shacks proceeding to yell,

"You left your devious little brats in town, again, you foolish dumbass hicks!" The nice man would then take his leave muttering incoherent swears as he stomped off.

Mello's mother would rush to him cradling him and cooing scolds in soft murmurs, whilst Matt's mother would seize his arm and drag him away with a tissue to her face, Oh why was her son such a mischievous little lad?!

Then one day on their usual trip to the city, pirates struck, young Mello and Matt were filled with such sheer awe, they didn't even notice their own parents being struck down by the filthy men. They didn't even register what was happening to their hometown. They didn't see the bright flames and calloused hate-filled faces illuminated by the orange glow; they saw heroes, men who lived for the open salty sea. Blue waters beneath their ship, all happy as a drunken fat king, these men were rich with happiness.

"Matt! Let's join them!" Young eight-year-old Mello cried, taking his friend's arm and dragging him to the spooky old ship with torn blackened sails.

"Okay!" The red-head exclaimed excitedly, always prepared to follow the blonde's instructions. The two clambered onto the ship and ran about excitedly, picking up actual swords, swinging the silvered cutlasses at each other.

"Yarrg!" Matt cried, as Mello pushed him down, aiming the sword at him, panting heavily.

"Gotcha!" Mello cried, blue eyes lighting up with a smile, laughing happily.

"And I, got you, you little scalawags." A weathered hand grabbed a handful of red-hair and lifted up the boy, dangling in the air.

A hand reached for Mello, when the boy spun around and growled, "Keep your hands off me." A threatening aura rolling off his small form, making for one pissed little boy.

"I like this one." The man boomed, throwing his head back and guffawed loudly, "He's got a lot of spunk. We'll take them with us. Throw them in the cell."

"We want to be pirates." Mello spun quickly out of a hand as it took hold of him, "Teach us your ways."

"Hah! Aye, is this lad serious?" A man with a black patch over his eye rasped, his teeth were gritty with dark tar and he held a mop in one hand, eyeing the boy.

"I'm serious. Teach us." His boyish voice was pensive, no joking matter, at all.

And they taught them. Taught them how to fight, schooled them in the ways of the pirate, stealing, hard labor, and never to trust anyone. It came a time, when the latter was of great use to them, when the Captain became old and forgetful, mean and confused, Mello killed him when no one else had the guts to do so. Thus, Mello became the Captain of the sea's roughest, toughest, the most relentless pirate crew to ever sail the seas. And he was a good Captain at that. The words, Captain Mello went together perfectly, and the Captain's hat perched on his golden locks, fitting his head so sincerely. A dangerous image was thanks to the new large scar…~

Mello abstractedly touched his blemish, his disfiguration, brought out of his thoughts by the sound of screams from ashore, "PIRATES! Pirates are coming!" A woman shrieked, high pitched, a loud horrified wail.

The man beside him chuckled, it reminded him of how he and Matt would stand, side by side and laugh in the face of danger. He turned to the man, almost about to give the roughed pirate a manly pat on the back when the old dog jumped right off the edge of the ship, landing in the clear water, swimming with large arms towards shore, other's in pursuit of him. Mello rolled his eyes, but smiled proudly at his eager crew and barked at a man who was about to dive.

"Get the life boat ready, Bo, you'll be taking me to shore." He curled his fingers at the man, gesturing for him to come.

"Yes Cap'n." Bo nodded and he began unfastening the thick rope that held the small wooden life boat, letting it drop into the water.

Mello propelled over the edge and into the boat below smoothly, his mate behind him, but jostling the life boat, teetering dangerously as it threatened to tip over. "Row." Mello ordered, and stared at the shore.

The man didn't speak, but a single nod was given and they were speeding for land.

Near heard the door creak open, Mello was back so soon? But when he looked, he saw it was the red-head, Matt, whom was supposed to be in his quarters 'thinking about what he's done.'

"You wanna come with me to shore, Near?" He asked, walking over and leaned over the bed, fiddling with the cuffs with a lock pick.

"Yes. Thank you, this is a great help." Near felt his hands being freed and rubbed his wrists.

"You're going to escape." It wasn't a question.

"No." The boy disagreed lightly, "I'll follow you." Yeah… right. As soon as he reached the shore, he was bolting.

"Nah, I'll help you." The red-head smiled warmly, "You don't need to stay here."

"Is that so?" Near raised an eyebrow, looking at the man wearily, is he bluffing? The thought surged through his brain, but…

"Yes, I actually feel sorry for you. Mello's been an ass and doesn't deserve you." Matt jerked his head towards the exit, "Come on, we need to hurry."

"Are you going to leave him too?" Big gray eyes searched the pondering face.

"Aye… never. Once you get caught up in Mello, best friend, pirate, or lover, you can't really get rid of him."He smiled, "Besides, he's still my friend, angry at my ass or not."

They dashed out to the deck, staring at the empty lifeboat on shore, Mello was already rampaging throughout the town, if they can reach the shore, and run along the edge without being noticed in all the chaos, Near would be free.

"Can you swim, lad?" Matt turned, watching as the boy nodded eagerly, and sprinted across the deck, flinging himself over the edge, and falling into the depths of the water, clothes and all.

Near felt himself flying, arms spread wide, as if he could actually soar, his plan was being put into action, he was flying! He pulled himself into a thin dart, aiming himself straight into the sea. As soon as the boy collided with the water, he felt himself being freed, Near bobbed along the surface, paddling actively.

Matt peered over the hull, "Damn, that kid wants out." He chuckled, and vaulted over the edge, down the freeboard, and swimming after the boy.

Once they reached the shore, Near staggered slightly, gray eyes wide, silvered hair, slick with water glittering like a beautiful diamond in the sun. Matt reached him, red-hair darkened by the weight of the salty sea, droplets dripped off the tips of his hair and rolled down his face, he licked his lips, tasting the ocean.

Near's eyes scanned the anarchic village, searching for a hiding spot. He turned to see his fellow escaper grabbing hold of a screaming wench and practically molested her. "You go lad, I'll stay here and enjoy the company of this lovely woman."

Near nodded and ran off into the crowd, darting quickly amongst all the commotion. He caught sight of a giant haystack off to the side untouched by the crazed mob. He pounced it, burying deep inside the prickly mess, he closed his eyes and said silent prayers in hopes that no one would discover him.


Okay... so Nia DID escape.... . Sorry, I don't know how long I can keep this up. =/ I know I promised a sea monster..... but I don't know anymore... So clickie the little review button and tell me what you like? And why you hate me? Yay! I already have plans for a new chapter. I think this story is almost oveer. =]