A/N : --Bows deeply in front of her reviewers-- I never got so much positive feedback for a story before. You guys are great ! Special thanks to Spellcaster Hikaru, Subakun-Sensei and Link-chan, who keep sending great, long reviews. I hope you like this one, guys.

Chapter 14

Tortuga was indeed a lively town. It was still early, but the place looked like there was always animation, no matter the time. There were a lot of people in the street, all of them looking like pirates, thugs or thieves, and sometimes the three all at once. There were many women too, some of them outrageously dressed, either prostitutes or pirates, probably. For Mihawk had to admit, many pirates had a weird sense of fashion. Although, he was probably not one to talk...

He kept a wary eye on both Shanks and Zoro, too. If he didn't, the consequences might be dire. Not that they couldn't take care of themselves (although he did have a doubt on Zoro's part) but they could sometimes lack the most basic common sense. The swords master didn't exactly fear for their safety - quite the contrary, actually - but he wasn't keen on being taken as a target by each and every inhabitant of this place. And that was precisely the kind of mayhem both of his fellow Grand Liners could raise.

A man in rags, obviously drunk, reeled in front of them, then collapsed with an indecent sound, and Mihawk wrinkled his nose in disgust. Before the three men had had time to stride over the body, another man dashed forward and scavenged the inconscious man's clothes, probably to steal what little gold the drunkard had not spent in alcohol. Annoyed, Mihawk passed round the two pitiful human wrecks, and Zoro and Shanks followed his lead. They kept walking in the street, but Gibbs' piece of advice in mind, also kept a susipicious eye on their surroundings.

Expectedly enough, most of the buildings were either inns or taverns. Of course, most people around this place were only there temporarily, except for the innkeepers and the such, who probably made a lot of money with all the stolen gold people had to spend. Mihawk snorted. The place reeked of alcohol, filthiness and immorality, but it did have a certain attractiveness to it, with all the animation. The swords master didn't need to look at his two companions' faces to know they were both smiling enthusiastically. Good thing he was there to keep them in line.

Suddenly, three men and a woman jumped out of a nearby tavern in the street, and they started to fight, one with his fists, the other with a broken bottle, and the third with something that looked like the half of a broken chair. The woman drew a sword and jumped in, while a crowd of people quickly gathered around the belligerent, shouting encouragements, some of them even joining in the fight. Very quickly, it degenerated in a free fight, and it became hard to stay out of it. Mihawk had to distribute a few punches to make his way out, hauling behind him two pirates who seemed to have a lot of fun responding in kind to the blows hurled at them.

Once they were a few meters away from the free fight, far enough not to be bothered, Mihawk looked at his two companions.

"Well ?" he asked, as he folded his arms, looking critically at them. "We're there, so what do you want to do ?"

"Let's go in a tavern", Shanks suggested keenly. "See what kind of drinks they offer here."

"Yeah, why not", Zoro concurred, although he cast a rueful glance at the fight. That, better than anything else, prompted Mihawk's quick approval ; better to have them safely seated in front of a drink than getting in the fight and destroying half the town.

"Fine", he said. "Which tavern do you want ?"

Indeed, there was quite some choice. There were at least six different taverns within a twenty meters range, and probably many others further on the street. It was very difficult and very easy to make a choice at the same time, since nothing distinguished any of these places from the others.

"This one", Shanks suggested, pointing at the closest building. A ship sign read "the Merry Anchor", with a small anchor dangling underneath. It didn't look too filthy.

"As you wish", Mihawk shrugged in answer.

They headed to the tavern and stepped inside. There was quite a lot of people, most of them already drunk, some of them eating dinner, but there was still a free table with enough chairs for the three of the Grand Liners. They took a seat, waiting for the waitress to come to them. They didn't have to wait for long, for a girl, about twenty years old, with long chestnut brown hair, approached them.

"What will it be, good sirs ?" she queried with a wink directed at Mihawk. He glared back at her with his golden eyes, but rather than deterring her, it seemed to encourage the girl, and the swords master held back a snort.

"What do you have ?" Shanks asked, with a half smile when he saw the girl's attempts and the frosty reception she got.

"Rhum, whisky, beer, wine", she said, counting on her finger, while she cast a disappointed glance at Mihawk for he had intently diverted his gaze.

"Whisky ?" Shanks' eyes brightened at this mention of an unknown and exotic sounding alcohol. "I'll give it a try."

"Beer", Zoro said, while fumbling with his sabers to sit more comfortably.

"Whisky", Mihawk decided after giving it some thoughts. He was a bit suspicious, not knowing what kind of effects this foreign alcohol might have, but on the other hand, they would leave soon (hopefully), and they would never get another occasion to try it. Besides, what was life without some hazard ?

"At once", she nodded as she left with a last, languorous peep at Mihawk, who pointedly ignored her.

The swordsmaster glowered unhappily at his two companions when he saw the smug looks they cast him, and Zoro stifled a snigger with difficulty.

"Hey, don't sulk like that", Shanks said with a smack on his friend's back. "I mean, at least she's attractive !"

"Yeah, most people would be happy", Zoro chuckled.

"I'm not most people", Mihawk replied tersely, with a scathing glance directed at them.

"Yeah, whatever. Well, while you're waiting, I'll go to the lavatory", Zoro announced as he rose to his feet.

His hand resting as usual on his swords' hilts - he'd been doing that more and more ever since Mihawk had 'borrowed' his wadou ichimonji - the swordsman crossed the room to reach the backdoor. While he walked past the bar, he came near their brown-haired waitress, and he heard her talking to another employee.

"...but I swear, he's so cute with his scowls ! And he's the most beautiful eyes ever..." the rest of the sentence was lost in the ambiant noise, but that was enough to make Zoro grin with mirth. He was still laughing up his sleeve when he pushed the door and came outside.

"Sorry I couldn't help you, Jack."

Jack Sparrow held back a sigh as he nodded goodbye to another old acquaintance of his, and he gazed glumly at the retreating back of the man as he fell back out of the tavern. It was the fourth man he had been questioning this evening, the fifth mug of rhum he'd drunk up, and still didn't have so much as the hint of a clue as to where could be an artefact called the "Orb of Videre". Was it still his bad luck playing ? He glared, for the umpteenth time, at the golden ring gleaming around his finger, but of course that wouldn't help.

Jack was half tempted to call it a day and go back to the Pearl, get some rest. Or maybe he could try to find Scarlett - she'd certainly forgiven him since the last time. He hadn't come to Tortuga for months, and she certainly missed him. And, well, if she refused to talk to him, then he could always go and say hi to Giselle. He'd left Gibbs in charge of the rhum problem, so he didn't even have to bother with that. And Gibbs was the foremost expert when it came down to rhum, he'd spend Jack's hard-earned gold wisely.

The Black Pearl's captain glanced once again at the gold band around his middle finger. Finally, going to Scarlett probably wasn't the best of ideas. With his current luck, she probably wouldn't content herself with a slap - a slap he didn't deserved in the first place. After all, he'd never sworn any kind of faithfulness to her...

He was drawn from his thoughts by the sight of two old and dirty boots, although of good quality, which stopped beside the table. The pirate captain looked up, noticed pants which might have been initially blue, a jacket of the same colour although it bordered on black on the sleeves, and a shirt which had definitely known betters days. Jack looked even higher up, and his eyes met with a stubble and longish, shaggy hair, around a face that seemed somehow familiar. From the stench, Jack could say that the man was probably drunk, and that he had certainly not taken a bath in the past month, but underneath the dirt... Yes, he had most definitely met this man before. Jack looked once again, critically, at his attire. The man didn't look very successful as an outlaw, that was the least he could say. Although the hat was rather nice.

Not waiting for an invitation - an invitation Jack wouldn't have given anyway - the man took a seat in front of him, and looked intently at the Pirate Captain.

"So the hearsay was true", he said with a haughty look. "Jack Sparrow is in town. Or shall I say 'captain' Jack Sparrow ?"

Jack cast him a look of amusement. Even in his current state, this man sounded as snobbish as ever. But he could respond in kind.

"Last time I met you, you were quite not so... smelly, commodore Norrington", he said pleasantly. James Norrington glowered at him, a gleam of hatred in his greenish hazel eyes.

"Not commodore any more", he said, anger animating his cultured, British-accented voice. "You are responsible for that, Sparrow. Because of you, I've lost everything I held dear. My crew. My commission. My life."

"Here for a vengeance, are you ?" Jack commented, discreetly lowering his hand to touch lightly the handle of his gun.

"Killing you would hardly change anything, would it ?" Norrington said bitterly.

"So what do you feel like, now that you are a pirate, just like me ?" the Black Pearl's captain taunted him with a grin. That probably wasn't the wisest thing to say, but he just couldn't resist the temptation.

"We are nothing alike", Norrington growled back. "You pirates fight for money, while we Navy officers fight for honour and justice !"

"Well", Jack drawled, "a man fights for what he lacks most. And I must admit, you make the most pitiful pirate I've ever seen."

He looked intently at the man's bristly wig, which he stubbornly still wore under his hat, although it didn't look like much anymore, then he took the pitcher and poured himself a mug of rhum. Norrington seized the jug when the pirate released it, and he helped himself. Jack looked ruefully at all the good rhum which disappeared in the former officer's glass, but didn't comment. Instead, he stood up and started to head to the exit of the tavern, in the hope Norrington would relent and give up following him around. No such luck, of course.

"Don't you run away from me now, Sparrow", the Englishman hissed as he strode behind the pirate captain, much to Jack's annoyance. Fine, no way out. He should be used to it by now.

"So", Jack sighed. "What was it you wanted ?" the sooner he got rid of Norrington, the better. Damned curse... if he had imagined to find the commodore... hum, former commodore, in Tortuga of all places ! He turned back to face Norrington. The man had a strange look, and that gave Jack a bad feeling.

"I know where the Orb of Videre is."

A very bad feeling indeed.

Mihawk fidgeted on his seat, and took a sip of his whisky. That was pretty strong alcohol, but nothing he couldn't handle. Not as good as the stuff he was used to, but good enough. Shanks cast him an amused look.

"Don't you like the music ?" the red-haired pirate asked, and Mihawk shrugged in answer. "You look like you'd want to be anywhere but here."

Shanks turned his head to see the room behind him, noticed the waitress making sheep's eyes in Mihawk's direction, and he turned back with a grin. The swordsmaster scowled in answer.

"Really, one would swear you've never met girls before", the one-armed man scoffed at his friend.

"I have", Mihawk muttered. "But I have no wish to start a relationship with this one."

"I don't think she would ask such a commitment from you", Shanks commented.

"I'm not interested in a one-time experience", the swordsmaster replied stolidly.

"I know, I know, you're an ice cube", the red-haired pirate grinned. "Poor girl though. And if you keep looking at her in that scary way, she might misinterpret it..."

"Well, if you feel so bad for her, why don't you go with her ?" Mihawk suggested in an ironical voice, although he quickly averted his eyes from the hopeful girl.

"Hey, it's you she's interested in, not me", Shanks shrugged, as he took another sip from his glass.

After that, they were silent for some time, until a man, most likely drunk but still lucid enough to walk more or less straight and speak almost clearly, came near their table. Big and tall, with gross features and a vicious sneer, he looked quite the troublemaker, but the ornated jacked he wore was of a captain. He probably was a pirate - at any rate he looked the part, although he was a rather pitiful specimen.

"You !" he bellowed, looking at Shanks with a glance of contempt when he noticed his missing arm. "I need sailors to join my crew. Interested ? Just sign here", he motioned at a man nearby, carrying a thick book.

"We're otherwise engaged", the red-haired pirate replied pleasantly, although he was a bit surprised at this way to muster up a crew. "Sorry."

Of course, that didn't seem to cool down the big man's temper. The recruitment was half a pretext ; he wanted a fight, and was obviously determined to have it. Besides, he was not the kind of man who took lightly a no to his whims. He saw an easy victim in Shanks, and cast a conceited glance at Mihawk. The small frame of the swordsmaster didn't make him appear as a threat either.

"Last warning", the big man said with a nasty smile. "Either you sign up, and forget about your previous engagements, or we beat the crap out of you !"

With a sigh, Shanks slowly rose, as if to obey the command. But then, he drew his sword, and directed the sharp edge near the man's neck, so quickly that his opponent didn't have time to react. The big man's look of surprise was almost comical, and he leapt backwards with a yelp. Mihawk didn't bother moving, as he watched the scene. Granted, he didn't want Shanks to cause mayhem, but since the other man had clearly provocated them, there was little else they could do but protect themselves.

"Captain Kellagh !"

"Hey, that's our captain you're threatening !" a dozen more men had risen with that, casting murderous looks at the offender. They cared little whose fault it was, really. Pirates sticked by their crewmates, no matter what, against strangers. Those who had still some honour left, that is.

Far from being frightened by the bunch of pirates, Shanks had a half smile. He didn't want to unveil his powers of, hum, persuasion - not to mention, the incident on the Dauntless had proven they were far less efficient than they ought to in this world - but his skills as a swordsman would be more than enough to get rid of these men. Seeing how some of them held their weapons, they had probably never even learnt how to use a blade. But the intervention of back up had boosted the big man's confidence, and he raised his own weapon, a small axe, with the clear intent to use it to cut Shanks' head in half. Unfortunately for him, Mihawk liked his friend's head as it was, and the swordsmaster finally rose to his feet. No reason why he couldn't have some fun too.

He looked quickly for Zoro, intent on borrowing him a katana once again, no matter what the greenhead could say, and only then did he notice that the swordsman was nowhere to be seen. Actually, they had not seen him ever since he left to the lavatory, and Mihawk held back a groan. He should never have left Zoro on his own. Well, too late for laments... He took the cross dangling around his neck, and unsheathed the short blade. It would have to do. Not the best weapon in a free fight, but he had enough skills to make up for it.

Meanwhile, Shanks dodged the axe aimed at his head, and he parried two more blows from the big man's crewmen - had they called him Kellagh ? Something like that. Shanks ducked down quickly, and dealt a wiry man a blow that knocked him out senseless. One down, another dozen to go. Or maybe more ; other customers had taken sides, either for Shanks or for Kellagh. The tavern owner knew better than to try to stop the fight, and he watched idly, probably used to this kind of scenes.

"I take the captain !" Mihawk called out from behind.

"Sure, have fun !"Shanks yelled back as he landed another blow and neatly cut Kellagh's thick log book in half, to the dismay of the man holding it.

Soon enough, the whole tavern had become a real battlefield, with people taking shelter behind the tables, alcohol being spilled and drunk, bottles crashing on the ground and metallic sounds when two blades met. Facing Mihawk, Kellagh sneered when he saw the ridiculously short knife the swordsmaster was holding. It would hardly have qualified as a jack-knife.

"Your life is forfeit, mosquito !" Kellagh roared with laughter and engaged the fight with his small axe. Small being quite an euphemism, for that matter, since it was still bigger than Mihawk's head.

Kellagh wasn't unskilled, but too violent in his blows, and too aggressive. He understood nothing of the art of swordsmanship, and he looked in disbelief when Mihawk stopped his wild attack without breaking a sweat. He attacked again, and again, but in vain, much to the swordsmaster amusement. When he stopped merely defending himself to go into action, he nearly cut his foe's throat with his first attack. Kellagh moved back, eyes wide, frantically looking around for some back up, but his men were too busy being slaughtered by Shanks. The thought finally entered the man's thick skull that he had engaged people too strong for him. Too late.

Mihawk made a move forward, with the intent to finish his opponent - the fight was getting boring - but someone held him back, just in time ; a bullet whizzed past his head.

"Careful, they use guns too", Shanks said, before releasing him and resuming his own fight. It had been a close call.

The bullet, having missed its target, kept going right on, until it hit a lantern. The oil spilled out and caught fire. With all the alcohol previously shed, the tavern was literally saturated with flammable materials. To the owner dismay, the fire spread quickly. In spite of all this, the musicians kept playing. After all, they were paid by the hour.

Zoro looked all around him, trying to see if the street looked familiar. Why did things like that continuously happen to him ? After all, he wasn't cursed, contrary to Jack. Or was he ? Sometimes, he seriously considered the possibility. After he had taken the backdoor of the tavern to find the lavatory, he had found himself in a narrow, dark street, with an uneven ground and mostly garbage lying around. And when he had tried to get back in the tavern... well, he probably had taken a wrong turn somewhere. At any rate, he was now completely lost, in a silent street badly-lit. People went about their business, not paying attention to him, which suited him just fine.

However, he didn't unduly worry. That kind of things happened to him all the time, and he had always somehow found his way. Eventually. How big was this town anyway ?

"Looking for something, kind sir ? Or maybe someone ?" a woman approached him. Her dress had know better times, and she could have afforded to comb her hair, but she was rather attractive, with a graceful figure and beautiful brown eyes.

"Hum, no, thanks", he replied. He was not so thick as to not understand what she meant, and he tried to walk past her.

"Don't be shy", she said seductively. "Why spend your evening alone, when I am here ?"

I bet the idiotic cook would kill to be in my shoes right now... That being said, right now I would switch with him any time. Anything to get back home.

"I don't have time", he muttered in answer to the prostitute. "I'm looking for my friends."

She sighed, but relented.

"Pity", she said gracefully. "If you change your mind..."

"Erm", Zoro said uneasily, ignoring the suggestion. "Would you happen to know the way to the main street ?"

"First street on your left", she replied, looking faintly surprised at the question.

Zoro nodded his thanks and headed to the direction she had given him.

"I said on your left, not your right !" she shouted from behind, and Zoro moaned when he realized he had nearly taken the wrong way once again.

He turned left and found himself in another street, empty and very dark, a real cutthroat. The swordsman glanced around ; he wouldn't be surprised if...

"Give me your purse, or forfeit your life !" the voice was of a young man, clad in fitting clothes. He had been hidden on a doorstep, but stepped forward after he threatened Zoro. The lad was possibly the same age as Zoro, with blond hair braided like a sailor's, and a dagger in each hand. Curiously enough, the voice sounded rather cultured, as if he had received an education ; but if he had, what was he doing there ?

Zoro folded his arms and eyed the lad critically.

"If that's a fight you want, no problem. But you know, I don't even have any money."

"Sure you don't", the lad snorted, obviously not believing him.

"As you wish", Zoro smirked. Training was good, but action was better.

The swordsman drew one of his katanas. Unless the lad was really good, he probably wouldn't even need the two others. However, Zoro was almost taken by surprise when his foe leapt forward, and one of his daggers nearly slit the green-haired man's throat.

"Ha !" the swordsman had a satisfied grin. "Not bad." He raised his own sword, and parried efficiently the two following blows, before he launched an attack of his own. "Ittouryu !"

To Zoro's surprise, his attack was half fended off. Only half, for the lad dropped one of his daggers from the power of the blow, but he held tight his remaining weapon, and remained unscathed. In spite of his being a lowly thief, the lad was not totally ignorant when it came down to swordsmanship, even if he was nowhere near Zoro's level. There was a gap at least the same size as between Zoro and Mihawk, but it still was impressive.

The lad's eyes narrowed with the humiliation, and he set upon the swordsman with his remaining dagger. Zoro dodged the attack effortlessly, then aimed a blow at his foe's head. But the thief ducked down, and Zoro's sword cut only his hat, revealing his youthful face. The swordsman didn't give him time to brace himself, and unwilling to kill him if he didn't have to, he grabbed the lad's shirt. However, he let go of him almost at once, and he stared at the thief in disbelief.

"A girl ?!"

Why did that always happen to him ? Fortunately, he... she... the thief didn't look like her. But still. Unsure as to what he should do, Zoro just kept staring at him... her, as he lowered his saber. The girl's cheeks reddened, and she raised the dagger she still clutched in her left hand.

"What, are you not able to fight a girl ?" she jeered with a scathing look.

"Hmph", Zoro snorted. "I was just surprised. Well, what are you waiting for ? Attack me, if you dare !"

He didn't have to tell her twice, for she leapt forward, but this time he had been expecting it. By answering to his taunt, she'd made a mistake. Her dagger was snatched from her hand by Zoro's blade, and she raised a hand to her face, where blood started to trickle from a shallow cut on her cheek. She was defeated, and she knew it.

"If you want to survive, you'd better pick your victims a bit more carefully", Zoro commented. The girl cast him a murderous look, and ran away as fast as she could. He didn't try to go after her.

"Now..." he muttered. "If only I could find the main street..."

"So you know where the Orb of Whatever is", Jack said, his heart pounding although he kept a cool voice and showed the utmost lack of interest. First rule of bargaining ; never look too eager. "Good for you. Why should that concern me ?"

"Because", Norrington replied slowly, sure of his advantage, "you have been asking about it the whole evening."

"Oh." All right, so the commodore had gathered some informations before coming to him. Jack would have to remember to strangle his trustworthy old acquaintances. "Maybe I want it", he conceded. "So what do you want in return ?"

"I'm not here to play games, Sparrow", Norrington hissed. And indeed, he did look very serious.

"I can see that." Jack forced a smile on his lips.

"I want my life back !" Norrington said, hammering each word.

"Nothing wrong with that", the pirate captain commented, as he leaned on a wall nearby.

"That's my price", the former commodore replied, with an adamant glare.

"Well", Jack started to walk around the other man. "I'll be sure to write a letter to the governor of Port Royal and ask him to give you back your commission. I'm sure he'll say yes, if I ask nicely."

"Do you think that's a joke ?" Norrington grabbed Jack's shirt and looked at him in the eyes. The pirate captain could feel the man's breath on his neck. That was very uncomfortable, but the pirate captain didn't lose his usual assurance, and he leant slightly forward.

"You are asking something I can't give you, my friend", he said fretfully with his usual smile.

"I know." Norrington suddenly let go of him, and Jack staggered for a second before he found his balance. The commodore turned away, and the pirate captain could no longer see his face. Not that he wanted to. However, the captain quickly steadied himself - Jack had to give him credit for his willpower. "Well, there is nothing here for me", Norrington resumed. "I can't, and I won't, stay in Tortuga."

"So ?" Jack queried, although he feared he knew what the former officer was going to ask.

"Let me sign up on your ship", the commodore said, his steely eyes set on Jack's. "For now, unfortunately, that's the best I can hope for."

"Hmm", Jack muttered half-heartedly. "Think you can follow the orders of a pirate, Mr. Norrington ?"

"I was in the military", the commodore reminded him with a sneer. "We do know how to follow orders, contrary to you outlaws. Besides, you don't have much of a choice, do you ?" his voice had become very dry.

This was a complicated situation, and Jack needed to assess it before taking a decision. So maybe Norrington was telling the truth and really knew where this Orb was, or maybe he didn't. In both case, he might very well be just looking for an occasion to capture the legendary captain Jack Sparrow. After all, taking such a famous pirate to jail was a straight way to getting back his rank and whatever else. Not to mention the bounty - as much as Norrington was an honourable man, he probably wouldn't look down on a few gold coins. As far as Jack knew, a Navy officer's pay wasn't anything spectacular.

Or maybe he was just being too damn paranoid and Norrington just wanted to get away from Tortuga to escape to his creditors. Whatever the reason, though, Jack was keenly aware that he couldn't trust Norrington one bit. But well, he already knew that. Who would trust a commodore from the Navy, after all ? On the other hand, he had new, powerful allies. Norrington might be a great swordsman, but he wouldn't stand a chance against Zoro. Actually, it might be pretty funny to watch such a fight, if ever it occurred.

"How do I know you're not lying about the Orb ?" Jack still asked, although he didn't really hope for an answer.

"Because", the commodore said, and he drew a pistol from his belt, previously conceiled under his shirt, to aim it at the pirate captain's forehead. "Because I could kill you here and now, and I have all the reasons in the world to do it."

Jack forced a tensed smile on his lips.

"You're hired", he said at once, and Norrington had a mirthless smile.

"Thought so", the commodore commented drily as he stowed the pistol back in his belt. "Sorry. Old habits die hard."

"We'll make a fine pirate of you", Jack affirmed, although his newly hired crewmember didn't look all that enthralled by the idea. "Now, let's get back to the Pearl."

Norrington nodded wordlessly, and the two men headed to the waterfront. As they came back near the main street, they saw a fire, a few yards away. In Tortuga, it was a common sight, but this time it held a deeper meaning than usual to Jack Sparrow. He shook his head.

"I knew they wouldn't listen to me", he muttered, ignoring the curious glance Norrington cast him, and he intently headed for his galleon. After all, his three guests were grown-ups and fully able to take care of themselves.

Hopefully.

N. B. : The "a man fights for what he lacks most" quote was from the French privateer Surcouf. I slightly changed the quote ; originally, it was something like - while discussing with a British officer :

- "You French fight for money, while we British fight for honour."

- "A man fights for what he lacks most !"