"I saw dumplings somewhere," Yamaguchi said, immediately setting off. Tanaka and Hinata had to quick-step to keep up with him. Never before had they seen Yamaguchi step out so boldly, leading the way, but hunger performed miracles, it seemed. Hinata's mouth watered at the thought of dumplings. He hoped they would have pork curry.

This trip through the market was quite different than their earlier wanderings. Before, they had stopped to look at anything that caught Hinata's eyes, meandering from side to side and changing direction at random intervals. Now, they moved in a straight line, following Yamaguchi's determined back. Hinata's eyes were still caught frequently by the wares of the merchants they passed, but it was always something edible.

Hinata hadn't been wrong to think of the market as a grand festival—including the food. He saw sellers of pies and biscuits and noodles and meat-on-a-stick and bowls of stew (bring your own bowl).

And the fruit! the fruit was entrancing. Bananas, berries, melon, mangoes, pineapple, papaya, peaches, and breadfruit. All seemed to shine and glimmer in Hinata's sight, brighter and more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen. Hinata hadn't tasted so much as a dried plum since three weeks out from Yukigaoka, when the stores of fruit aboard the Swan ran out. (Except for limes and lemons, of course, and oh, how Hinata was coming to loathe the taste of citrus.)

He wanted to ask Yamaguchi to stop so he could buy a guava, or an apple, or at least an apricot. But then he remembered that he'd spent every last coin on the clockwork bird. Hinata sighed. He was sure that Tanaka and Yamaguchi would share with him once they reached the dumpling stall, but he wanted a piece of fruit now.

Well, and what was stopping him? Hinata and his comrades had picked plenty of fruit and other comestibles from unwary shopkeepers in Yukigaoka. Granted, they were usually caught and forced to scrub floors or wash pans or fetch water from the town well to pay for their thievery. They were generally friends with all of the shopkeepers in town, despite their light-fingered ways. And in recent months Hinata thought he'd been getting much better. Mrs. Arnold hadn't even blinked when he lifted that hot cross bun directly off the tray she was holding.

Even as these thoughts flitted through his mind, Hinata's attention was caught and held by a particularly bright and succulent apple hanging off the edge of a fruit stand up ahead. He looked away, trying not to make his intentions too obvious, and slowly drifted toward that side of the lane as they approached.

He would have to be quick and subtle, there and then gone before the eye could blink. His wrist had to move in a supple twist, hidden in a flash. Hinata hadn't had a chance to practice these skills aboard the Swan (not unless he wanted to be caught and whipped for stealing), but he was sure that he could pull it off.

Almost there, almost there... Tanaka was saying something, laughing at some joke he'd just told, and Yamaguchi grunted a soft response, still focused on the dumplings somewhere ahead. Hinata nodded and smiled as if he was listening, letting his path drift closer and closer to the fruit stall and that beautiful, enticing apple. His fingers stretched out, wiggling in anticipation, and he was careful to keep his eyes ahead, his expression happy and engaged as he looked around.

There! The brush of smooth, glossy skin on the tips of his fingers, a snatch of the hand, and his prize was in his fist. Hinata couldn't keep a broad grin from escaping, but he kept his hand at his side, the apple hidden behind the satchel hanging from his shoulder, until they were half a dozen paces away.

Then, at last, he judged it safe. He raised the apple in his hand and took a grand, victorious bite, glorying in the sweet taste, the freshness bursting off his tongue. Stolen food always tastes the best, he thought. Who said that? Some philosopher. I'll ask Yamaguchi later—he'll be sure to know.

And then Hinata ran into a wall. He rebounded with a clash of loose limbs against solid muscle, then looked up in dismay at what he'd run into. It was a person. A man—no, a boy around Tanaka-senpai's age. But he looked like a man. He was tall and broad and his face was like the statue of a forbidding god. The white hair on top of his head was short and tufted in something like a military cut, and he didn't seem to have any eyebrows at all.

And he was glaring at Hinata as if Hinata had personally offended him. He was tall and strong and utterly, utterly intimidating, and he was glaring at Hinata.

Hinata squeaked in shock and ran to hide behind Tanaka. His entire body was shaking, the apple almost falling from his fingers. What had he done to earn the wrath of this burly stranger? He didn't think he'd been so foolish as to insult someone he'd never met, especially someone so large and terrifying.

"Eh?" Tanaka stopped in his tracks as Hinata suddenly appeared in front of him, clinging to his vest with one hand, the other still holding his apple. Yamaguchi stopped too, looking back with a look of irritation at being delayed on his quest for dumplings. He blanched and hunched his shoulders, though, when he saw what Hinata was hiding from.

Tanaka narrowed his eyes and followed their gazes, looking behind himself to find the big, white-haired stranger. The tall fellow was now pointing at Hinata over Tanaka's shoulder, his arm straight and outstretched like an accusing spear, and his face was bent in determined disapproval.

Tanaka frowned. "Oi, what's the ruckus here? Who are ya? What d'ya want with my kouhai?"

The other boy said nothing.

Tanaka's voice rose in agitation. "Can't ya talk, ya damn island boy? Tell me what this about, or we'll be on our way! You have no right to halt us on the street, do ya, knave?"

The white-haired boy continued to stand there, though his face was starting to redden. Then another young man appeared beside him, a short fellow with spiky black hair and enormous eyebrows, as if making up for his companion's lack. "What...what is it? Aone, why are you..." He followed the line of Aone's finger to Hinata, and his eyebrows rose in understanding.

He slapped his forehead. "Another one, Aone? Why is it always you who spots them?"

Aone looked down at his much smaller friend, still frowning. He shrugged, almost bashfully. "Sorry, Moniwa." The words were as slow and halting as his body was big. But Hinata had seen how quickly he could move. He was not comforted by this giant's gentle speech.

Moniwa shook his head and pressed on Aone's arm, making him lower it. "Not the most effective method, my friend. Let me handle this."

By now Tanaka had shuffled around to face the strangers, Hinata still behind him, now clutching the back of his vest. Yamaguchi had moved up to stand beside him, sweating but defiant. Tanaka crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance much the way he had against Billy Hanson. "What's this about then, eh?"

Moniwa walked a few steps closer, craning his head to look behind Tanaka at Hinata. "What do you have there in your hand, little fella?" he asked, not unkindly.

Hinata bristled at the tone, Moniwa sounded like he was talking to a small child, or a nervous animal. He wasn't a child! Though he was...short...and hiding behind Tanaka...kinda like a child...

No, no, this would never do. How was Hinata ever going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Yamaguchi if he couldn't do it now? Slowly, step by step, Hinata inched his way out from behind Tanaka. The others watched and waited for him to move with varying degrees of patience, Tanaka with one eyebrow raised, Moniwa standing with his face almost blank.

Moniwa nodded when Hinata finally, after a long, fraught moment, revealed the hand holding the apple. "Ah. I see." He looked at Aone. "This was what troubled you?"

Aone nodded. Yamaguchi craned around Tanaka to see, and gasped with loud, horrified shock when he saw the half-eaten fruit. "Hinata...!"

Tanaka looked like he was struggling with something, his face contorting as he fought to keep it under control. Hinata wasn't sure if he was trying to keep himself from laughing or crying. After a little, though, Tanaka regained enough composure to take a step away from Hinata, turning to face with him his arms folded across his chest. His face was stern, for the moment.

"Stealing, Hinata-chan? Really? Did I teach you that?"

Hinata shook his head and scuffed his toe in the dirt. "'M sorry...I was just hungry... And it was really pretty... And it was right there hanging off the edge of the table..."

Tanaka shook his head with a heavy sigh and turned to face Aone and Moniwa. He looked for all the world like a parent embarrassed by their child's bad behavior. He bent over at the waist in a deep, apologetic bow. His hand, rough with hard labor, pressed on the back of Hinata's head and forced him into a bow, too. Hinata knew Yamaguchi was also bowing on the other side.

"Please forgive Hinata-chan's rudeness and thievery," Tanaka said. "I'll pay for the apple, and for any other damage he might have caused."

Moniwa waved his hands. "Just the apple is fine, thank you. There was no real harm done. I apologize for causing a scene."

"Nay, nay, you were right to cause a scene. This was truly inexcusable."

Hinata peeked up at Moniwa through the orange fringe of his hair. Moniwa was beginning to be flustered by their deep bow, looking around a bit frantically as his face reddened. "It's all right, really. It was just the bad decision of a child. You can stand up now."

"Nay, nay, not until we've earned your forgiveness."

"It's earned, it's earned! Aone takes things too seriously, sometimes. It's just that this fruit stall belongs to his family and it's very precious to him. Please stand now. Let's all part as friends."

Tanaka straightened at last, grinning, pulling his kouhai up with his arms wrapped around their shoulders. "Aye, as friends! That would be the best parting we could hope for!" He drew his purse out of his trousers with a flourish. "Now, how much for the apple?" He eyed the fruit in Hinata's hand with a speculative gleam. "It is indeed a very beautiful thing, and not native to Iron Island, I do believe. It must cost a pretty penny, does it not?"

Moniwa looked at Aone, rubbing the back of his head, but Aone had no response. He continued to frown, watching Hinata without blinking. He was still fixated on the thief who had taken from his family, it seemed.

Hinata had a flash of inspiration. He lowered his head, glancing bashfully up at Aone through his hair again, and shuffled forward through the dry dust trodden by many feet. He moved slowly, haltingly, as if afraid of what would meet him at the end of his short journey, but forcing himself to make the trip anyway. And he held out the apple to the tall guardian who had caught his thievery.

"I'm very sorry," he said in the smallest, highest, most contrite voice he could muster. "Please take it back. I'll never steal again. I know it was wrong."

Aone continued to watch him with a heavy eye. Moniwa all but held his breath, waiting, as did Tanaka and Yamaguchi. Then, at last, Aone nodded. He reached out and plucked the apple from Hinata's open palm as delicately as a breeze carrying off a dandelion clock. Hinata released the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding and scampered back to Tanaka's side.

Moniwa laughed, a little too high-pitched, and looked at his friend. "There, are we all settled now?"

Aone stared at the apple in his hand, then back at Hinata. He nodded, slow and solemn.

Tanaka glanced down at his purse, then to Moniwa. "Should I not pay for it?"

Moniwa shook his head. He was still almost as red as the apple. "Nay, nay, we're settled. It's just an apple, and Hinata-chan has made his apologies. Please, please go on and enjoy the market."

Tanaka nodded and put his purse away. "Aye, we will, and with our thanks to ya." He slung an arm around Hinata's shoulders and pulled him into his side a little harder than necessary. "I'll keep an eye on this young scamp from now on, so I will."

"Of course, of course." Moniwa was occupied now with pushing and shoving Aone back toward the stall. As his head barely came up to the top of Aone's shoulder, it was something of a feat. "Come again if you'd ever like to buy some fruit!"

"We will!" Yamaguchi called over his shoulder as they hustled away, making good their escape.

Tanaka waited until they had rounded two corners, out of sight and hearing of the fruit stall and its guardians. Then he grabbed Hinata and doubled over, wheezing hard. "That...that..."

Yamaguchi hovered around him, trying to look in his face. "That was awful."

"That was grand," Tanaka corrected. He squeezed Hinata hard into his side, making the smaller boy squeak at the pressure. "Hinata-chan, you rogue! I can't believe you're such a little sneakthief! We're lucky those two didn't call the guard down on us."

It sounded like a scolding, but Tanaka's tone was jovial and delighted. He was finding a tremendous amount of pleasure in their adventures in the marketplace, notwithstanding Yamaguchi's discomfort and Hinata's naivete. Hinata stared at him with wide eyes, not sure whether to join in his laughter or be as quiet as possible after all the trouble he'd caused.

Yamaguchi's scowl lifted as he watched his senpai laugh. "You were very clever," he said after a moment, slow and thoughtful. "I didn't know you were such a talented conman."

He didn't sound entirely approving, but this passed over Tanaka's head.

"It was all thanks to Hinata-chan!" He stood straight and grabbed Hinata's shoulders, shaking him back and forth like a dog gently mauling a favorite toy. "You little devil! I can't believe the way you played those two. Like fiddles!"

Hinata shuffled his feet. "Being small has its good points," he mumbled. He had discovered this early in his career as a street urchin.

"They must have thought you were nine or ten years old," Yamaguchi said. "That's still old enough to know that stealing is wrong, though." He slapped Hinata lightly across the back of his head.

"You played along well, too, Yama-chan." Tanaka let go of HInata with one hand to sling a heavy arm over Yamaguchi's shoulders. "Truly I am the most blest of all senpai, to have two such clever and adorable kouhai to call my own."

Yamaguchi blushed. Hinata blew out a breath in exasperation, longing to be shut of the entire ordeal. He didn't much like being praised for being cute and little. Dammit, he was a sailor. Someday he was going to be a pirate. He didn't want the advantages of being cute and little anymore. He wanted to trade up for the advantages of being strong and manly, like Tanaka-senpai.

Yamaguchi gave him a side-eye look. "Let's go get those dumplings," he said loudly, interrupting Tanaka's continuing guffaws. "I'm hungrier than ever after that exertion and all."

"Aye, aye, let's continue our journey." Tanaka released them at last and set off again, a spring in his step and a whistle on his lips.

Yamaguchi hovered uncertainly at Hinata's side as Hinata straightened his clothes, doing his utmost not to pout. "Are you all right?" he asked after a moment.

Hinata gave him a helpless shrug and a nod. He didn't know what he was, truly, but he wasn't hurt. Tanaka had prevented that with his protectiveness and his quick thinking.

They hurried after Tanaka, aware that he would leave them behind in just a few moments. The crowd bustled around them, wearing clothes of all colors and descriptions, their faces and the tones of their skin bearing the features of every nation under the sun. Tanaka walked with a great, swaggering gait, the rolling movement of a sailor new to land after months asea, and he held his close-shaven head high, so it wasn't hard to spot him through the press. Still, if they tarried too long, the crowd would win.

Yamaguchi leaned over into Hinata's space as they moved, keeping close to him, though not so close as to be stifling. "Tanaka-senpai didn't mean to hurt your pride," he said just loudly enough to be heard above the chatter of the crowd. "Please don't let his words trouble you."

Hinata scowled. "I'm not troubled."

Yamaguchi looked at him skeptically out of the corner of his eye, but didn't contradict him.

Hinata sighed. "I'm not troubled much. I know that it's no bad thing to be seen as small and harmless, especially when you know yourself to be strong and skilled. I'm just...weary of it."

"You're thirteen," Yamaguchi said kindly. He patted the top the of Hinata's head. "Maturity will come with time."

"Oi, you're thirteen, too!"

"Yes, but I'm a very mature thirteen," Yamaguchi said primly, though not without a sparkle in his eye.

Hinata laughed, bold and bright, his dark clouds banished. He ambushed Yamaguchi without a moment's thought, throwing his arms around his friend and nearly bringing him to the ground. Yamaguchi gasped dramatically but kept his feet, wrestling back when Hinata tried to throw him down. They stumbled through the press, laughing and shoving at each other, and nearly ran into Tanaka as he stood, turned to wait for them with a broad grin adorning his face.

Then, finally, after what seemed like a month's trek through a confusing wilderness, they found the dumpling stand. And then they ate the best dumplings Hinata had ever tasted.

The Iron Island Marketplace truly was full of adventure.