Chapter 9

Her Captain was correct. In the canon hallway they were tied together around the main mast and gaged with cloths. Their faces were relieved when they discovered her and so was she. Until she realized Ox was missing. Patty had burst out in tears when she told Ox had left the ship to buy her a colouring book since he was going to buy food for Royal Thunder, but then Arachnophobia had ambushed them and taken over the ship.

The only thing they could do, was hope Ox had found shelter at the port and then search for him the next day.

As soon as her left over adrenaline ran out she realised how late it was. She was still dressed in her soaked dress and hadn't eaten anything for hours. After Tsubaki addressed to her wounds, Liz returned her silver pin, changed into her dry and ordinary clothes. She took a can of beans and retreated back to the storage area. When the others were asleep and she'd finished her meal, she pulled up her journal, quill and ink.

Dearest me

I've had the strangest and most curious adventure this evening. Firstly, I saw my beloved Stein and Marie, but I of course couldn't stay and chat or else they would've brought me back home. Secondly, I met my idols. I finally after so many months of searching, I was in their presence. It wasn't how I had imagined it, you know, having their guns pointing at me and Medusa ripping at my hair.

She couldn't quite sink everything in. It was such an eventful night she couldn't quite possibly process everything that had happened. It was nice seeing familiar faces of her past, and it made her realise she wasn't ready to go home just yet. She'd only started living this life and she wanted to bring back home plenty of stories of her own to tell her grandma.

Yet, seeing their faces made her wonder. What was going on at home? She knew her parents were fussing over her disappearance, but they seemed to be functioning enough to attend the ball.

But she hadn't seen her grandma at the ball. How was she doing? Was she still taking care of herself and her cute house? Maka missed her grandma, and she knew her grandma missed her too, but she knew her grandma knew she was living her dream. She wouldn't be as worried as her parents. Maka reached for her silver pin at the back of her head and her fingers ran over the carved surface.

After all, she was the one who prepared her.

Thirdly, my Captain finally acquired what he'd been searching for year, but unfortunately as soon as we gained it, Arachnophobia ambushed us and stole it from him. Shibusen seems like a great crew with a lot of spirit, but this isn't where my heart belongs. It belongs on Arachnophobia. With the Gorgon Trio. Maybe I could somehow help Arachnophobia with information and then convince Captain Asura to let me join. I know Black*Star and the others will be disappointed with me, but I got to keep on moving.

Sincerely myself

She carefully blew on the ink and closed the journal, putting it, the quill and ink back into her back. She lay on the floor and puffed her bag, trying to make it as comfortable as it could to rest her head on.

Then there was her Captain. The raw nervousness in his wide eyes when they danced. The kind gesture by handing her his jacket. His concern for her. He wasn't as bad as she thought he was. She'd completely misjudged him, or let one side of him take over his entire character, the importance of her mistake was he wasn't all that bad. He simply wanted to be taken as a tough Captain with no blind spot. He would need to cover himself up like he had when he'd Arachnophobia hot on his tail. He couldn't give them a weak spot in his defence.

She fell asleep with more questions than ever about her Captain. She couldn't quite grasp him, understand his character, there was more to him than the eye meet and she was curious exactly what hid behind his facade.

The morning that came, everybody was already up and above. Tsubaki was making breakfast, Liz sitting beside her and inspected her nails. Sid sat on the other side, resting his chin on his hand with his mind in the blue.

"No way! I'm not goin' to get pissy-pants off the port!" Black*Star exclaimed at Kilik.

Kilik sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Ye're the right-hand-man, Black*Star. He's yer responsibility so ye should row back an' get his sorry ass."

"Hell no! Why don't ye go an' get him? Huh? I'm busy with enjoying Tsubaki's company an' eating her food!"

She only rolled her eyes at their bickering. Well, someone had to step in and stop their ridiculous arguing before Kilik ripped Black*Star's skull off for being a pain in the behind.

"Guys." Maka stepped closer to them. "Black*Star, I thought you were a God." She couldn't believe those words were actually coming from her mouth. "Don't Gods take care of their underlings? Ox is your underling, right? So shouldn't you be taking care of him?" Her eyes narrowed and she couldn't believe she actually used his confidence against him. "Or maybe you aren't as great as you think. Maybe Ox is stronger than you and that's why you don't want to get him because you know he'll defeat you in a real battle."

Instantly a vein popped and threated to burst through his skin on his forehead. "What?! NO WAY! I'M WAY GREATER THAN THAT PUNK!" He fisted his hands and pumped his right one up in the sky. "I'M GOING TO ROW BACK TO THE PORT IN LESS THAN THIRTY MINUTES AN' THEN I'LL KICK OX'S ASS SHOWING HIM WHO DARES TO ACT BIGGER THAN ME!" Simply as that, Black*Star ran toward the small safety boat at the back of the ship Sid had pulled her out of months ago. He lowered it quickly as he loudly bragged about himself to the heaven.

She slowly shook her head. He was unbelievable. A true knucklehead.

"Black*Star. He'll never change, will he?" Kilik spoke, wearing a soft smile of amusement.

"No." She smirked wide as she saw Black*Star row like a maniac toward the port. "He'll forever be the most obnoxious and egocentric man I've ever come across."

Tsubaki announced breakfast was ready and with Black*Star gone and her Captain in need of breakfast as soon as possible with him not eating any dinner last night, she took it upon herself to deliver his breakfast. It would also give her possibly time to snoop around his cabin for clues of his strange facade.

Tsubaki prepared a bowl of ginger soup and put it on the silver tray. Maka grabbed it and went over to his door. She knocked on the door, receiving instantly a permission of entry. Her hand twisted the knob and it slid open.

"Breakfast." She said and closed the door behind her.

Captain Eater sat behind his still messy desk, this time full of open books, maps and papers. His eyes widened for a second before he spoke. "Sprog? What happened to Black*Star?"

"Um." How could she put this in good terms? "Black*Star rowed back to the port. Ox was missing last night and they informed me that Ox had gone to the town to buy stuff for Patty and Royal Thunder. He never returned due to Arachnophobia's ambush on them."

He loudly slapped his hand on the surface of his desk and ran his hand through his hair. "Curse him." He muttered under his breath. "No of them ever learn to follow orders."

Maka slowly neared him with the tray in her hands. "I'm sure he hadn't any ill intentions. How could he have known Arachnophobia would launch an attack on us? No one of them saw it coming."

She reached his desk and to her surprise, on the desk right in front of him, she saw he cloth with the strange mermaid language drawn on it.

"Is that…?"

Her Captain first cocked his eyebrow before he gazed down, realising what she meant. "Yeah. Gave them a fake clue. It's not the first Arachnophobia tries to steal the clues to Oni's Treasures. I always go around with fake ones just in case."

"Oh." She paused. "Well, here is your breakfast. Tsubaki made ginger soup." Maka held out the tray. Captain Eater laid his hands above hers on the handles and carefully she entangled her own from his. "Enjoy the meal."

"I'm sure I will."

Maka turned on her heel and she was ready to exit his nest.

"H-hey Sprog."

She came to a halt and looked over her shoulder at him seated behind his wide desk, scratching his cheek as he avoids her gaze. "Last night… It stays between us."

"Aye aye Captain." She exited his nest and joined the others around the pot full with soup.

As she expected, the breakfast was amazing. Tsubaki had a hidden talent for herbs and mixing spices. The aroma of the soup made her mouth water and the taste of it made her almost fall of the log. She had never tasted anything like Tsubaki's cooking since she joined Shibusen. It reminded her a little bit of her home. She bet her grandma would've loved to learn a recipe or two from her.

Throughout the breakfast, Patty was sad since she never got the colour book Ox promised he would get her. Her miserable frown almost matched the sorrowful face of Sid's.

Sid always looked very sad and his mind was constantly in the blue. Even when you addressed him, he would barely nod his head but never get engage in conversations. What he was thinking about remained a mystery.

After breakfast everybody silently went to work. Liz, Patty and Kid went underground to examine the explosives and see if they were of use. Tsubaki was cleaning away the breakfast and Sid quickly headed toward the nets, probably to check out their and the sails condition after Arachnophobia's ambush.

Kilik stood up and followed Sid toward the net.

She had to get to Sid.

"Kilik!" She ran for him.

He turned around and gazed at her. "Maka? What's up?"

"I was just wondering…" She smiled softly at him. "Can I go up with Sid in the net in your place? I've never been up in them and I would like to learn how to handle and take care of the net and the sails."

"Sure" He gave her a thumb up. "I don't see a problem with it. Ye gotta learn them at some point. Might as well be sooner than later." He turned toward Sid who was already climbing the net to the main mast. "Hey Sid! Ye're goin' to teach Maka the sails!"

Sid came to a halt on the net grimaced. "Fine. Get up here lass!"

A large smile spread on her face. "Right!" She ran, jumped on the railing and grabbed a hold of the net. Her feet stepped on the ropes and she heaved herself up with her legs.

"Use yer arms an' pulled yerself up." Sid yelled from above her.

She nodded. "Right!" She followed his hint and climbed up the net, using her arm strength instead of relying only on her legs. She climbed higher and higher up the net, following Sid. Sid stepped off at the large main mast branch and held the rope as he waited for her. It took her a little longer than Sid to reach the branch of the main mast. The wind grew stronger and ripped at her hat and clothes viciously. Instantly her hand slammed on her hat before it disappeared with the wind. Carefully she stepped onto the branch of the mast, holding tightly onto the net as the wind threatened to push her off.

Sid stood with his hands in his pockets as the wind blew strongly in the sails like it was nothing at all. He truly was a real sailor with a killer balance.

"How am I supposed to keep my balance?" Her hands tightened on the net.

"By keeping it. Practice's the only solution, there're no shortcuts. That's just the way it is."

Maka gulped. If she fell, she would surely break bones. Bones that would take weeks to heal.

"O-okay." Carefully Maka lowered herself and sat down on the branch with her legs dangling ten yards above the ground. There was no way she could stand up and keep her balance like Sid, she was a novice at the sails.

Sid gave her a large amused smirk. "You're smart, lass." He turned around. "Now come on. The sails need to be checked and maybe fixed."

"Right!"

As he went calmly and carefully along the branch, Maka crawled after him. It took time as he skilfully wandered along the branch toward the trunk of the main mast. His gaze wandered along the white cloth in search for any damage.

"Sid." She spoke over the wind.

He stopped at the shaft and leaned toward it, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah?"

"Can I ask you a question?" Her feet dangling as she crawled closer.

"Sure. That's the man I was."

"You always seem so down. Are you okay?" She questioned when she was right in front of him.

He closed his eyes and his jaw tightened. Thick silence hung heavily around them. "That's me business. That's the kind of man I am now."

"But Sid, if something is bothering you, you can a—"

"Lass." He broke her off. "Putting yer nose into other's business's something ye shouldn't bother with. Ye're only here as a sprog. Focus on yer job."

She hushed. For the rest of the time, she stayed quiet. Whatever was on his mind, he wasn't going to open up any time soon. He was too focused on his work for his good. What he was keeping for himself, hopefully wouldn't weight him down too much.

The rest of the day, Sid and she worked in silence. They went through every rope of the net and every string to the sail to make sure there was no harm dealt. During her day with Sid, she realised she had to practise on the sails. No one knew when she would be forced to stand up on the branches of the masts, so she had to be prepared. As she worked, when a sore Ox gave Patty her colouring book and Ox feed his bird, he went to his hammock in the sleeping ward.

Maka couldn't help to gaze at Black*Star who snuggled up beside Tsubaki, occasionally groping her causing a blush to heat up her cheeks as they entwined their hands. It made her stomach twist with disgust. Black*Star was her friend on the ship, but she couldn't let him use poor Tsubaki like that. She had to tell her about his motives.

But now wasn't the time.

Dark soon fell and dinner time had arrived. The crew had gathered around the pot hanging over the fire and the aroma of a spicy tomato soup filled Maka's nostrils. Her stomach growled loudly and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Look who's hungry." Liz smirked and patted her back.

"Don't worry Maka." Tsubaki smiled kindly and grabbed a bowl from her pile. "You can get the first bowl. You worked really hard on the masts."

"HEY!" Black*Star interjected and stared with wide eyes at his lover. "I WORKED REALLY HARD TOO! I DESERVE THE FIRST BOWL!"

"Yeah right!" Kilik grinned from across the fire from Black*Star. "All ye did today was get Ox an' groping Tsubaki."

"ONLY A GOD COULD'VE ROW AS FAST AND AS FAR AS I DID!"

"Stop screaming yah overgrown monkey." Liz covered her right ear and glared at the right-hand-man. "Tsubaki, yah might want to gag him."

"She's already done that, stupid!" Black*Star exclaimed and instantly the air turned heavy and Tsubaki's face flushed a bright red. Maka did definitely not need to know any more details about their intimacy. Walking in on them was far more than she needed to know about them.

"So!" Tsubaki smiled shakily as she poured soup into the first bowl. "Dinner's ready! Here Maka." Tsubaki handed the bowl and Maka gladly accepted it. She could take the first bowl as a peace offering from Tsubaki. She knew Maka didn't want to be dragged into their business, but repeatedly, she was pulled into their relationship. Maka gazed into Tsubaki's eyes as she worded a "sorry" and offered her a smile.

If only, if only she knew about Black*Star.

It would be the last time she got involved in their relationship.

Maka mouthed a "don't worry" and grabbed a spoon as Tsubaki started pouring up more bowls of soup. Black*Star grabbed Captain Eater's typical silver tray and Tsubaki put a bowl on it to the sound of a door slamming open.

Maka's head whipped around and saw her Captain wandering closer.

"Captain." Black*Star stood up from the log and held the tray. "I was just on my way―"

"I'm not here for of the food." Captain Eater spoke harshly. The shred of friendliness Maka had witnessed was completely obliterated and his dark ruthless facade was one again there. His narrowed eyes moved toward Ox. "Ye disobeyed me orders yesterday an' ye abandoned the crew like a coward."

Oh no.

Ox's eyes twisted with fear and he curled over his bowl. "B-but C-C-Cap―"

Captain Eater fished his hand inside of his black jacket and the next moment, he held a wooden gun and pointed the muzzle toward Ox.

"Captain!" Maka shouted. "You can't do this!"

"Yes I can." He pulled at the hammer and loaded the gun.

Quickly Maka stood up on her feet and stepped in front of the gun. Her pulse throbbed in her ears. Fists balled at her sides as she glared at him. How dared he raise his gun toward his own crewmember? He was cruel and she couldn't let his hatred cloud his judgement.

"If you want to shoot him." She took a step closer and the muzzle of his gun aimed at her forehead. "You must get through me first."

"Maka!" Liz hissed.

"Ye're crazy!"

"Ye know he'll shoot ye!" Kilik snarled and stood up from his seat. "Captain, spare them both. Both of them're valuable―"

"Shut up!" Captain Eater barked and his hand tightened on the handle.

Maybe it was stupid of her to do this. She completely forgot the fact he would actually kill her in order to get to Ox. Just like before, she interfered and she got to taste the whip. Now she would get killed because of her interference. Her Captain was evil enough to hurt her, and he most certainly was evil enough to take her life to get to Ox.

She swallowed and tightened her hands. Even though she was scared of her Captain's limitless hatred, she wouldn't― couldn't show a shred of fear. He would never gain the pleasure of seeing her quivering in fear. There was no way she would grant him the power of her fear. She was in control of her own fear. Not him.

Her eyes pierced his dark red ones, narrowed into mad slits. His finger placed on the trigger as he forcefully pressed the muzzle against her forehead. "Any last words?"

"Yes." She gritted her teeth. "You're a coward."

His eyes flickered. Only for a millisecond his facade came crumbling and left was a cocktail of fear and shock in its purest form before he built up his walls again. It was repeating itself. She'd faced the same fear in his eyes when she was forced to play his love interest. He was hiding his true emotions behind that fortress of his. What was it he feared so much he had to defend himself by killing and hurting those he should've trusted the most?

He bared his teeth threateningly. "Ye know nothing."

"I might know more than you think, Captain." She mirrored his expression. "And you know what? You're just a scared boy, hiding behind that cruel act of yours. You're―"

"Shut up!" He pressed his gun roughly against her forehead, forcing her to backpedal.

"Maka!" Tsubaki gasped.

"You know I'm right." Maka spat at her Captain. "That's why you're reacting so violently. You're just scared I've seen through your fake act."

"Ye little." Even though he harshly snarled at her, his eyes reflected his true emotion; fear. He knew as well as she knew, he only acted tough because he was scared. And now, with her seeing through his act, he'd become even more scared. Now it wasn't she who feared him, now it was him.

"Punish me as much as you want." Maka grabbed the gun and held it tightly so he couldn't remove it. "Ox and the others have done nothing to deserve your hatred, but I have. So whip me and beat me, but I won't let you hurt them!"

Captain Eater turned silent, pressing the gun toward her head.

"If you shoot." Kid suddenly interjected and another gun was in play, but Kid's gun was pushed against their Captain's temple. "You're dead."

"Kid!" Captain Eater snarled. "Ye dare go against me for Sprog?!"

"Yes." Kid pulled at his gun's hammer and his eyes narrowed. "My loyalty is to you, but I refuse to let you spill Maka's blood. She shows true bravery by standing up not only for Ox, but for all of us. Now it's our turn to stand up for her."

Maka's breath caught in her lungs.

"Yeah!" Patty jumped up from her seat, spilling some of her tomato soup on the floor. "We're here for yah!"

"Hell yeah we are!" Black*Star pumped his fist into the air. "A true God takes care of his minions!" Tsubaki smiled toward Maka and stood beside Black*Star.

"We all are." Kilik smirked and crossed his arms over his chest as Liz stood up, leaving Ox seated with his arms crossed like a stubborn child and Sid unbothered eating his soup.

"And yah know what, Cap'n?" Liz spoke up and supported her arm on Kid's shoulder. "If yah hurt Maka, yah'll have all of us after yah and I can guarantee yah can't fend off all of us."

The oxygen was sucked out of her lungs. Maka couldn't believe it. All of her friends. They joined her and stood up to the Captain with her. Their support touched her heart and she realized she'd gained friends worth more than her weight in gold. Friends who stood up and supported her and covered her back when needed, those kinds of friends were the rarest and a true treasure.

Captain Eater eyes were wide and sweat glistered behind his bangs. The fire reflected in his eyes, showing his façade he'd made sure to maintain to every price had been eliminated and showed uncensored and shakeable fear. He was quivering in fear on his spot and the hand holding his gun shook in her hand.

She smiled wide toward her Captain. "Well? Are you ready to throw yourself at Shinigami and let him collect your soul?"

He gritted his teeth as he glared at her. "Release it."

She let go of his gun and Captain Eater retrieved it, putting it back inside of its holsters. Kid removed his own gun and tucked it away.

Captain Eater turned on his feet and gave his back to the crew. "Enjoy the evening. Tomorrow we'll sail for the witch's lair." He started walking toward his nest.

"Captain."

He came to a stop, but he didn't face her.

"I understand you're afraid, but you don't need to be alone." She smiled wide at him, simply hoping her message would reach him. "You're not alone. You've your crew by your side. Instead of hurting and threatening us, why not accept us so we can help you."

"That's all?" He sounded aloof.

"Yes."

He continued waking toward his nest with less grace.

Her smile widened and she had a feeling, he'd taken in her message to reconsider his pirate ways.