Is it bad that I'm surprised I got this out before two months? Shows how my writing schedule has been. Actually, for some odd reason this story is easier to write than my Naruto ones. So for those who read those, I am soooo sorry for how neglected they have been. I've been crazy distracted lately this school year, and then my writing mood is just all over the place. Well, anyway, the next arc is finally starting. This arc shouldn't be too long, mostly because I'm excited to get it over with so I can start my other story, which starts basically where this arc ends. It's another SYOC, and if you're interested, you can ask about sending in characters. I don't know when any will come in yet, though. Well, the first crew oc member is mentioned in this chapter. Does anyone recognize who? You'll probably figure it out XD. Sorry not much happens this chapter. It's setting up for the actual arc mostly. There should be action or at least the beginning of action next chapter.

3-17-14

Arrival on Ravista

Arrival on Ravista

Something jabbed painfully hard into Jason's side. "Jason."

Although his mind was too groggy to remember who the voice belonged to, Jason's dream began to morph to a discussion he had had with the voice. He didn't see himself or the owner. Instead he saw the ocean spreading out before him. "We need to go back," his dream self said.

"We can't!" a hoarse voice shouted, their voice breaking slightly as their breathing hitched to avoid crying. "I have to become the Pirate Queen so I can be strong enough to stomp in the pirate face who beat the DarkLights."

The simple name sent a ripple effect throughout Jason's dream. As everything settled, Jason no longer saw a peaceful, calm sea. Instead two ships rested on its surface. From one he could hear a loud, victorious laughter. The smaller one was silent until the former began peppering it with rapid shots. The ship caught fire, and then the screams of agony pierced the night.

"NO!"

Jason jerked into an upright position, struggling to stop the stabbing pain in his chest. Tremors ran through his body as sobs threatened to escape him. Everything grew unfocused as panic continued to hold him. Where was he? Where were the DarkLights? Why wasn't he there to protect them?

The thoughts would have continued to plague him if not for the cold, small hand that suddenly grasped his forearm. "Jason, it's just me."

It was the same voice from his dream. The voice began to penetrate his hysteria, gradually loosening its grip. Jason finally began to calm down, and when he did, he saw a small girl watching him with pained purple eyes. They were red. She'd been crying again. "Mouse," he murmured. He didn't dare mention she'd been crying. The first time he had she had grown angry at him. "I'm sorry. I'm back."

Mouse simply nodded, and then she grinned. It was slightly sad, but considering what had happened two days ago, it was a miracle she could do that at all. Mouse pointed behind him. "I tried to wake you up. Look at what's over there."

Jason glanced back, and despite the circumstances, he felt a smile of his own spreading across his face. His arms protested as he grabbed the previously resting oars, but he didn't care. Finally, after two days, they'd found land.

The land felt unnaturally still when Jason first stepped on it. Although he'd only been at sea for a couple of days he'd never gone so long without some contact with land. Mouse seemed to find the switch funny, poking at her legs while giggling. It was such a nice sound after her usual silence since she first awoke and heard the news.

After dragging the little boat to a spot it was somewhat hidden, Jason finally surveyed the land they'd found. The duo had landed on a deserted beach. Seeing as the day was just starting, that was understandable. A town much larger and more modern than their old home spread out before them. Toward the back was a large building, a forest spreading out behind it. What was past that, he couldn't tell.

"Mouse, what are you doing?" Jason exclaimed, the small figure suddenly coming into his sight near the entrance of the town.

Mouse paused, glancing back at Jason with an eyebrow raised. "What does it look like I'm doing, dummy? We need to go to town, so I'm going to town."

Even as much as Jason knew they needed to, he understood the one thing that Mouse didn't – they didn't have anything to pay with. Mouse claimed she wanted to be a pirate, but he knew neither of them were keen on the idea of stealing from the innocent. They had no other options, though, than to go into town and hope by some miracle luck actually was on their side. Maybe if they explained their situation to the marines – omitting what Mouse claimed they were to become – they could get some help.

As Jason had noted before, it was still early so very few people were out. Those who were rushed to their jobs, paying very little attention to the two weary children searching for any sign of shelter. A few times Mouse attempted to run up to a stranger, but they simply told her to return to her home when she claimed they were shipwrecked because some big mean pirates destroyed their old pirate ship. By the fourth attempt Jason began to hold her back whenever she tried. These workers didn't seem keen on believing Mouse, and Jason didn't feel like humoring them with their serious situation.

By the time the town had actually began to grow active, Jason and Mouse plopped down on the ground outside a small building, watching the citizens as they went about their daily lives. Mouse leaned against Jason, clutching her loudly growling stomach. "I want food!" she whined, sticking her tongue out at nothing in particular.

Although Jason's stomach silent begged for the same thing, he kept his mouth shut. He needed to find a way to get food for Mouse first. Maybe one of the people here would like help? If so, he could do whatever they needed for a bit of money. How much beli would it take to buy a bit of food?

Even as Jason was wondering, his eyes began to droop. After so long with no food or water, his body appeared to finally be shutting down. How Mouse could still so energetically pout was beyond him. As fatigue crept more and more upon him, his mind began to wander on its own. If only the DarkLights were still around. This wouldn't be happening. Ken would take care of everything. Just like the captain should. "Heh. We'd make a pathetic crew. Don't even have a captain yet."

Mouse pushed off Jason, glancing back at him with slightly offended eyes. "No captain? How dare you say that?" She rose to her feet, point at herself with her thumb. "I'm the captain, of course."

The statement he'd meant to be bitter humor turned out to accidentally give both of them some more energy. Jason smirked. "Oh, really? What if I say I want to be the captain of this "crew", huh? What are you going to do then?" All of this was just a joke to him. After all, he still was dubious about the thought of the two of them actually being pirates. Mouse may want it, but how could a teenager and preteen be pirates?

Her cheeks poofed out as she crossed her arms. "No way. I'll fight you for the title if I have to."

"Really? That wouldn't even be fair on you, Mouse." Deciding to play along a little bit longer, Jason reached into his pocket and pulled out the only thing they'd really managed to find – a single coin. "How about this? Let's see who the luckier one of us is. Whoever gets this right can be the captain. Sound good?"

Always seeing herself as lucky, Mouse nodded enthusiastically. "I'm sure I could take you in a fight, but you're on."

Jason nodded. "Call it," he said as he flicked the coin into the air.

"Tails!"

The coin flipped in the air, raising nearly to Mouse's height before coming back to down to the ground. Jason and Mouse simply watched it as it bounced off the dirt, spinning around as it debated which face to fall up. Finally it began to settle-

"Cut it out! I'll get the marines."

It was noisy as the town grew more populated, but the angry, almost scared, voice made its way to the duo. Mouse was already on her feet, and Jason soon followed. Whoever had spoken seemed to be in a bit of a bind. Glancing around Jason saw that an older man stood outside a door, cornered against a wall by two thug-like men. Nobody appeared to be trying to help.

Mouse glanced at Jason, wondering if she should just send some shadows their way so they would unknowingly help. She didn't have the time, though. Jason was already making his way through the crowd, his eyes burning with anger. After years of only being able to watch their town being oppressed, it was no surprise. Smiling at the thought of watching Jason throw around a few idiots, Mouse followed close behind him.

One of the two men scoffed at the older man's threat. "The marines? We ain't scared of them like all the other wimps around here," he said. "If you don't give us some money, I may just need to use my knife to persuade you otherwise."

Jason was upon them before the pinned man could even respond. He grabbed the one who had spoken by the collar and yanked him back, using his foot to trip the already unbalanced man. Before his partner could react, Jason spun on his heel and delivered a powerful swing into his face. He would have stayed up if a shadow didn't suddenly dart out and slam against his leg as he was stepping back. Apparently Mouse had decided to step in.

Just the amount of effort Jason put into the simple moves nearly made him pass out. Rather than let the men see this, though, Jason glared at each of them. "I suggest both of you leave now. I'm not in a really good mood right now, and I don't believe you want me to take it out on you." Using the last of his energy, Jason exhaled some fire from the corners of his mouth, causing his eyes to flash like they did when he used Berserk.

Fear flashed across both men's face. "De-demon," the first thug stuttered, scrambling to his feet. The other followed, both making their ways to the other side of the town.

Jason hated to use fear against him because of his race, but with his energy level, it was necessary. As it was he felt his legs begin to give out beneath him. Before he could even ask if the man he'd helped was okay, the world began to tilt around him.

"Woah there." The man had stepped off the wall, slipping an arm around Jason's shoulders to keep him upright. "Can't have you passing out on me, can I?" He reached up, placing a hand on Jason's forehead. "You don't appear to have a fever." Before the man could make any other speculations as to what was wrong, a loud growl came from both Jason and the girl following him. The man laughed while Jason glanced away in embarrassment. Out of all the times for his stomach to actually make an audible growl. "Ah, hungry, are you? Then you've come to the right place."

Jason had to admit – he felt guilty after the third plate of food, but he couldn't stop himself from eating another three more. He'd always had a bigger appetite than any humans, but he still amazed himself with how much he could eat. Of course, Yamamoto, the man Jason had helped, seemed more astounded by the four plates Mouse had managed to shovel down before she stopped eating.

"I know you say you haven't eaten or drank anything in two days, but how can two small bodies like yours handle so much food?" he laughed, leaning against the bar the two travelers were sitting at. Apparently the building he'd been pinned against was a pub he owned. He hadn't even bothered asking too much about what had happened to the two. He'd simply started feeding them the moment they walked sat down despite Jason's protests of them being unable to pay. How could so much food be worth just scaring off a couple thugs?

"So," Jason began after devouring another chicken leg, "why were those two men threatening you?"

Once again Yamamoto laughed. "They weren't really going to do anything. Like all the other thugs in this town, they're all show because they're too afraid of the marines to do anything. After all, Ravista has a marine base where multiple captains report. So they were just trying to look cool."

Jason wasn't so sure. He could feel the killing intent coming off the man with the knife. Seeing no point in correcting the pub owner, though, Jason simply nodded.

Figuring that his guests were finally done eating, the girl nearly being asleep, Yamamoto decided to go ahead and ask the question he'd been wondering since he'd seen their state. "So where are you two kids coming from? Not have any food at home or something?"

He was hesitant to answer. After all, according to Yamamoto, the town had a major marine base. Would he even believe them anyway?

"We're shipwrecked pirates," Mouse announced, grinning like a fool as she rested against the bar. A few of the customers that had filed in glanced over, chuckling when they saw it was just a young girl's statement.

As Jason had predicted, Yamamoto looked dubious. "Is that so? Did you not have supplies before you started your journey?"

Mouse seemed to catch on to his doubt and frowned. "It's true. We were part of the DarkLight pirates, but they were taken down, so we're going to become stronger to defeat the pirates that beat them, and then, I'm going to become the first Pirate Queen."

How she could so easily talk about the defeat of the DarkLight pirates was beyond Jason. The mere mention nearly sent him into a depression, but he forced himself to stay in the present. He glanced around the pub. Her statement had drawn the attention of both the customers and the workers in the back. At this rate she was really going to get them into trouble. Before he could say anything, though, Yamamoto burst into hearty laughter.

"The Pirate Queen, huh?" he laughed. "I'm not sure whether I should take that fire in your eyes seriously or take the risk of doubting it and getting burned." Yamamoto suddenly leaned forward, staring intently into Mouse's eyes. Although taken aback, she didn't falter in meeting his gaze. "The Pirate Queen," Yamamoto murmured. With a sudden grin, he called over his shoulder, "Hey, Yuna, watch over the pub. I'm going to take these kids to get some supplies."

Yuna, the young woman who had been making most of their food, gave Yamamoto a quizzical look. "Oh, and why's that?" she questioned, having heard the conversation between them.

"Why? Because these kids have a goal, and I want to help them with their first step."

Her eyes widened. "You mean that little girl's want to be a pirate? But if they're serious we need to-"

Yamamoto laughed once more, silencing the woman. "Pirate? What a preposterous idea. These two are simply going to make a trip to the next island. Isn't that right?" It was an obvious lie, but he still winked at Mouse like they shared a secret.

The man's response earned him two gaping expressions. One from Yuna, though after a moment she shook it off. Obviously she was used to it. The other was from Jason, who was astounded by the fact the old man was taking this pirate business more seriously than he was.

Yukimaru heaved as he leaned against the wall, looking down at his trembling hands. His partner, Kiru, was across from him, kicking angrily at a trash can that was at the wrong place at the wrong time. "That stupid demon brat. He made us look like total fools."

The mention of the boy sent a shiver down Yukimaru's spine. His gold eyes and flaming mouth came back to mind. Nothing but a demon would be able to do that, right? When he'd agreed to go with Kiru, his worst fear had been the marines. Now, however, he wished they'd run into marines. He gradually began to calm down as he watched Kiru continue raging, beating the garbage can until Yukimaru wanted to put it out of its misery.

Finally Kiru paused in his assault and glanced over at Yukimaru with a twisted grin. "Hey, you know that one guy you said you saw in town the other day?"

It took a moment, but once Yukimaru understood, he smiled as well. "You mean "Shockwave?" Yes, I most definitely remember."

"I think I finally found a way to use that information," Kiru said. "We're going to make that little brat pay for what he did. If "Shockwave" Shikaku is the one sent after that kid, he'll most definitely die."

So, figure out the character? And what do you think about how the duo are handling it? Jason is showing some PTSD, and Mouse is being, well Mouse. Seem reasonable with their characters? Really that was the hardest part in this chapter. Also, Yamamoto was on the spot, but I actually like him now XD. What did you all think? Like it? Have it? What? Also, I can tell you the next chapter title is Wanted seeing as originally that was going to be for this, but I decided to postpone the event that would give it that name.