Sorry for the little wait. I've been super busy lately! The little one has been going through a growth spurt/spitting up phase. Oh, the fun! :P She's already 5 weeks old! Isn't that ridiculous?

This is sort of a short chapter, so I wrote it all in one go! Sorry it's so short and not a lot of dialogue.

I hope you enjoy anyways! Please comment because it helps me write faster!

I stood on the deck, staring out into the black night. Nothing was visible except for the dark ocean and the star-filled sky. There was no phantom silhouette. No ship on the horizon.

The Phantom Mist had disappeared, like smoke in the breeze. I could picture him now, standing at the helm. The wind in his sails were billowing the sleeves of his shirt...

"I am a pirate and I will always be a pirate."

I hadn't wanted to believe him. Hell, I don't want to believe him now! Kelly was ruthless, but Akefia was worse. Underhanded. Treacherous. I couldn't think of enough words to describe him. He stole from us, even after knowing us.

Even knowing what the cost would be to me.

"Do you want me to have the men set the sail?" Malik asked, quiet behind me.

"And go where?" I asked, sounding so small and broken.

"You know him, Ryou," he said. I sighed. Don't remind me. "Where would he go?"

"Where he won't be found," I answered, knowing it was true.

"If it eases whatever you're feeling, I think this was his plan all along," Malik said, doing his best to put on a brave face for me. "Remember what you said about him being captured so easily? And that other fellow-"

"Ryuji," I interrupted.

"Yes. He's gone as well."

I nodded, sighing again as I swiped at an infuriating tear. I was trying to hold them in, but they just kept slipping out, sliding down my cheek one by one.

"Perhaps Kelly knows where he would go to," Malik continued. I gave him a small smile, glad for his optimism, even if it was false.

"We'll make plans tomorrow," I said.

"Good, and when we find him, just leave him to me. I'll get him to tell me where it is hidden."

"I doubt it," I mumbled, crossing my arms and hugging them to myself.

"Then we will take the ship apart, plank by plank." I shook my head.

"The first thing he will do is rid himself of the treasure," I said.

"Devil take him..."

"I suspect he shall when the time comes," I frowned, looking up at the dark sky.

The topic had run it's course, and I thought that we would have nothing else to talk about. I was wrong though, as Malik cleared his throat to begin another conversation.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my marque. I planned only to use it if we were boarded and in danger of being arrested."

"No, it's my fault," I replied. "I only forged it because I knew I would need it for a crew to follow me. I feel no better than a pirate, lying to my crew and doing whatever it takes to gain what I want."

"You're nothing like a pirate."

We could debate on that all night, but I didn't have the energy. I wanted to be alone and I knew the only way to get that right now would be to give Malik a task.

"I've changed my mind. Have the men unfurl the mainsail. Let's put some distance between us and this damn island."

"That's the daring Ryou I know!" Malik smiled with approval. "When we find Akefia, he'll rue the day he ever crossed paths with us."

He left my side, shouting orders. Immediately, the men jumped into action. It wasn't long before I heard the wind slapping at the sails and felt the wind rushing past us as we headed into deeper waters.

I would find Akefia Bakura. I would find him no matter how long it took. No matter what the cost. I would find him and make him pay. Take back what he took from me.

I would get back my father's treasure. And I would get back my heart.

OoOoO Bakura's POV OoOoO

The treasure was exactly where I knew it would be. Behind a false wall. It was hollowed out behind a book shelf. For all of his blustering and crudity, his embracing of the pirate life, he loved to read. Once, he'd told me that he considered his books more valuable than the treasure they hid, but he needed the treasure to purchase his books.

I'd never understood that, and never would I try.

Gold. Silver. Jewels. They offered a man security. If my mother had possessed just a handful, she'd never have been forced to give me up. She could've fed all of us. I would've lived a very different life.

Would it have been a life I embraced? Would I know where the stars in the sky fell to the earth? Would I have known a laugh so beautiful that the mere memory of it caused me to smile?

If I hadn't been on the sea, then I wouldn't have met Ryou.

I sat at Kelly's desk, staring at the ivory chest. It was smaller than I remember, only two feet wide. Easily hidden. Easily found. Engraved on the front was the royal coat of arms. It had been entrusted to Ryou's father. This was what he had been searching for. What he had sacrificed for.

He'd been so close. He'd done everything right. But then he trusted me, the one mistake that had cost him everything.

I shrugged off the guilt that was pricking into my heart. It was his own fault. He'd given me his word that I would be granted freedom. But I never said I wouldn't try to escape with some incentive. I'm a pirate. He had merely forgotten that I wasn't honorable.

Although I couldn't deny that I had done everything in my power to make him forget. I charmed him, deliberately, knowing that he would fall for me.

What I hadn't expected was my falling for him.

Devil take him! I hated the way he made me feel right now! It was as if I had done something terribly wrong. I'd only done something that any self respecting pirate would do. I had found the treasure and I had taken it. And I did it without any loss of life. They should be grateful of it. I had done that out of kindness. The treasure is simply me reward for such a wonderful plan.

I loosened the latch. Kelly had long since broken the lock, so I figured it was my turn to see the contents. I lifted the lid and looked inside. A slow smile spread across my face as I dipped my hands down. It was as if I was slipping my hands into the cove to grab a starfish, but when I lifted them, this time my palms were filled with gold coins. I let them fall through my fingers, hitting the remaining coins with a clink.

I reached out, grabbing a bottle of rum that sat on the edge of the desk. It was already half empty as it dulled the ache in my chest. I didn't understand it. It was as though someone had pierced me with a sword.

I fell down into the chair and drank down the rest of the bottle before throwing it against the far wall. It shattered, spraying broken glass across the floor. That was damn stupid of me. Now I'd have to get to the bed without cutting my feet.

I would go outside and look at the stars, but it would only remind me of Ryou. I didn't want any reminders.

Leaning forward, I shifted my fingers through the coins again. So many coins and so much wealth. At long last, I had it all. The ship, a crew, the treasure.

Twisting the ring on my finger, I wondered why it felt as though I had gained nothing.