Happy Holidays! I hope you all have had a wonderful and safe break! This chapter has actually been finished for about 2 weeks now, but I've been sitting on it, tweaking it here and there. I've had this chapter planned out since the beginning, so I was afraid I was not going to do it justice. I hope you all enjoy!
Happy Writing!
Sarah~xTAx
"Wow. This is all so... so..."
"Crowded? Smelly?" Odd offered.
"Incredible," Aelita breathed.
The two had approached the market street in the European village. Venders shouted from their tents, auctioning off items to all that passed. Several languages filled the air, sounding like music to Aelita's ears. Never had she experienced such culture before, and she couldn't wipe the smile off her face. People pushed by her, sometimes with unnecessary force, but she paid them no mind. "I've never seen so many people in one place before," she shouted to Odd as he caught up to her.
He laughed, "if you think this is bad, you should see the dock when the rum shipment arrives." Aelita giggled, scanning the venders on either side of her. She saw fresh produce, colorful silks, children's toys, everything she could imagine. Some marketed to the lesser fortunate, offering bruised fruit or worn clothes at a very small price. Others aimed for customers with a fatter pocket, having goods imported from France and Italy. She finally caught sight of a tanned woman selling men's dress coats.
"There!" she called over the noise, grabbing Odd by the hand and dragging him to the vendor. The woman was short and elderly, her dark hair wiry and sticking out in all directions. "Hello," Aelita smiled politely, "I would just like to inquire on the available wears you carry?"
The woman looked at her as if she had three heads. Odd cackled at Aelita's elbow, gently pushing her to the side. "Do you have anything that will fit me?" he asked the woman. The woman nodded, giving Aelita another untrusting glance as she left to look through her supply.
"I do not understand, that is exactly what I asked. Why did she only listen to you?"
Odd continued to laugh, only increasing Aelita's frustration. "You have to talk simpler, darling. Us common folk don't understand all those fancy words."
Aelita rolled her eyes, "I hardly call what I said to be 'fancy'."
"Maybe not, but it's fancier than words I'm use to hearin'. We're going to have to dumb your speech down if you're going to learn to be a pirate."
"Maybe you can teach me how to be dumb."
Odd opened his mouth to reply when the woman returned, holding up a navy blue suit jacket with matching slacks and a clean white undershirt. "Excellent! Now, could you get me the same thing but in a different color? We can't go matching, that would be a disaster!" Odd clutched his hand to his heart dramatically. The woman rolled her eyes and disappeared back into her supply.
"You are truly one of a kind," Aelita giggled, looking after the woman.
"And I take that as the deepest of compliments," he replied. Once the woman returned, they paid with the allowance given by the "Executive" and continued to walk through the venues. Aelita kept close by Odd's side, not wanting to get lost in such a dense crowd. As they walked further and further into the thralls of the crowd, people began shoving and stepping on her. She was surrounded on all ends by smells she had never smelt before, each becoming less and less pleasant as they continued forward. One man growled as he walked by, and Aelita grabbed tightly onto Odd's sleeve. Odd chuckled at her sudden closeness. "Don't worry, princess, I'm not gonna let anything happen to ya."
Aelita rolled her eyes. "Well, aren't you just a knight in shining armor," she teased.
"You'd like that wouldn't ya? I could be all prim and proper just like your boyfriend, Ulrich. I'll even get me a nice golden stick and shove it right up my-"
"Hey! Ulrich is not my boyfriend." Her cheeks turned a dangerous scarlet color. "And if you have any manners, you will mind your tongue when speaking about my friends."
"I was never really taught manners growing up." He gave her a sideways glance, a mischievous smile on his face. "I'm only kidding, princess. I like the old chap. Sure he's a little uptight, but I'm sure I can break him down. Besides, I just like to see you aggravated; it reminds me that even the noblest can lose their temper."
Aelita shook her head but did not reply. She continued to cling to Odd's arm as he led her through the masses. She found herself constantly perplexed by this man. He always seemed to be smiling, a joke ready on his lips. The only time she had ever seen him not laughing was the night of the battle, when she shot that man...
Why must her mind always wonder to that place? Of course she did what was necessary. If she hadn't, Odd might not be standing next to her right now. Yet still she wondered: how had she found it within herself to pull the trigger? She had never killed anyone before, not even close. The scarier part was the fact that she had never once mourned over her decision. Sure her subconscious always seemed to bring it up, but it never caused her pain. What did that say about her?
"Over here! There's something I think you should have." Odd drug her towards another vendor, snapping her out of her thoughts. The short man had a mustache so thick that it seemed as if his face stopped before his nose. Surrounding him were a variety of hair pieces, ranging from thin toupees to long, gorgeous wigs.
Aelita raised her eyebrow curiously. "Hair? You think I need new hair?"
"Just for tonight or when we travel to higher class areas. No offense, darling, but your pink hair doesn't exactly help you blend in. If your father is looking for you, no doubt your face has been circulated all throughout the continent. Maybe this could help keep them off your trail."
Aelita scrolled through the aisles, running some hair through her fingers. "That's actually a brilliant idea, Odd."
"Yeah, I get those from time to time. Now, what color should we choose? You could have yellow or red or-"
"What about this one?" Aelita pulled a long black wig from the top rack. The hair was thick and fine and cascaded down in gorgeous waves. She laid it on her head, allowing the curls to fall down her back. She had never had long hair before-she thought it required too much upkeep- but now she realized why so many woman preferred it. It made her feel warm, protected, and beautiful. She twirled a strand in her hair, relishing in the immediate calm that came with the mindless task.
She looked up at Odd, standing there agape. He had a sparkle in his eye that made her want to squeal and throw up at the same time. He tucked his hands into his pockets, snapping from his trance to smile widely at her. "That's it. That's definitely the one."
X
The air was chilly as the breeze from the water swept through the streets. The ocean refused to sway silently, releasing its chill among the entire town. Ulrich stood with Odd at the corner of a bakery, his hands tucked in his slack pockets. He never thought he would think it would feel weird to be in a dress suit. This one was unlike ones he had worn in the past, made out of pure silk and woven to perfection for a dozen years. This material felt scratchy and unclean, but it appeared to be exactly like the ones he had worn in the past. Never would he have thought such a thing was possible.
Odd balanced on his heels, rocking with impatience. "What is taking them so long?"
"I have waited on Aelita for two hours while she dresses. Apparently those things are a pain to get on."
"Yeah, well, I'm in pain from waiting so long. Think they'd notice if we just left?"
Ulrich chuckled, "I think you would have two angry women on your hands. She may be small, but Aelita can throw a punch as good as any man. And the captain carries a gun."
"I thought I said no guns tonight."
The boys turned to see the girls approaching. Odd replied something smart to Yumi, but Ulrich could not make out what it was. He was perplexed, mesmerized by the woman in front of him. Never before had he seen the captain look so... delicate. Her hair was tied up in curls, allowing him to see her full face for the first time. Her onyx eyes shone brightly in the darkening streets around them. Her dress fit her perfectly, almost too perfectly. Lace sleeves adorned her arms while a cream corset hugged her small waist. The dress looked as if it were specifically crafted to fit her body. It accentuated all of her curves and made her look like a woman. If he had not already known it was her, he wasn't sure he would recognize her. She looked, dare he say it, beautiful.
Seeming to notice his stare, she stood up straight, hardening her gaze. "Are we ready?" her captain demeanor reminding Ulrich who she was. He averted his eyes, feeling foolish for even entertaining such thoughts. Upon hearing no opposition, Yumi approached Ulrich, linking her arm with his. He looked at her surprised, and she gave him a sideways smile. "Let's get this show on the road."
X
Aelita inhaled deeply, digging her nails into Odd's suit jacket. She could hear the music from the other side of the door, the sounds of chatter and choreographed footsteps. She had never much cared for parties, except perhaps when she was younger, but she felt extra nervous for this one. She had no doubt that her father would not be here -he did not associate with anyone not of substantial use to him- but she worried someone else she knew would be here. Sure she had the wig Odd had bought her, but that could only go so far when you are the missing daughter of the most powerful man in Europe.
"Hey, you okay?" Odd whispered as they approached the doors. "You're practically cutting my arm off."
Aelita immediately loosened her grip. "I'm sorry. I'm just nervous I guess."
"Don't worry about it, I understand where you're coming from. I haven't been around this many stiffs since, well, ever."
"Hey!" Aelita hissed in his ear.
Odd turned, cheeks red, "I didn't mean you were a stiff! Or that people you knew were stiffs. I was just-"
"Hey, you two, behave yourself," Yumi whispered the threat. "If any of you two draw any kind of attention to yourselves, we're screwed. Just stay low key and blend in. You're just here as insurance if anything should go wrong." She directed the last part to Odd, a look in her eyes that reminded Aelita of a scolding mother.
"Aye, cap'n." Odd mumbled. They had finally reached the door to the ballroom. A young man in servant dress opened the door, beckoning them forward.
The room was a large circle with a domed ceiling etched with golden spirals and angels' wings. Large columns created another circular perimeter in the middle of the room, separating the dance area from the social space. A quartet of strings sat in the corner as couples in long dresses and pressed jackets swayed together in synchronized movements. Women were scattered around the room gossiping while men stood at the food, filling their bellies with what was no doubt the most expensive wine in the country. Tables upon tables of food covered the entirety of the wall space. Aelita could see dozens of assortments of game, fruit, nuts, chocolates, and the finest smelling cheese she had ever encountered. Odd stood next to her with his mouth agape, but quickly straightened himself.
"I've never seen so much food in one place in my entire life."
Aelita watched Yumi and Ulrich whisper to each other before making their way around the room. Aelita found it strange, the two of them arm in arm. What she found strange was how not strange it actually was. Sure, they seemed a little tense and awkward, but it still seemed to fit. Her small arm rested so delicately within his, and his hold was strong yet gentle. What also surprised her was how comfortable Yumi seemed to be. Unlike Odd, she seemed relaxed and her gracefulness seemed to come naturally. She almost seemed as though she had done this before.
She snapped out of her analysis once the pair disappeared into the crowd. Aelita turned her attention back to Odd, who still stood mesmerized at the food. She giggled, "please, control your drooling. Let's make our way over there."
As they began to walk towards the food, the quartet changed the song to a slower tempo. Odd stopped in his tracks, turning excitedly toward her. "Hey, I actually know this one! We have to dance."
Aelita glanced uncertainly at the dance floor. "Are you sure? You only practiced for a few hours last night-"
"This may be the only chance I get to dance while I'm here. Unless you're scared?"
Aelita rolled her eyes but could not hide the blush from creeping onto her cheeks. "Lead the way, kind sir."
Odd took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. They stayed near the edge of the area, afraid of drawing attention in the center of the couples. He took her waste confidentially, but immediately misstepped as they began to dance.
Aelita giggled softly, "I thought you knew this one."
"I do know this one. I'm just warming up is all. Besides, I have to keep you on your toes."
"Crush them is more like it," she retorted as he, again, took a wrong step, his heeled boots landing not so delicately on her small feet.
"Sorry," he muttered, his cheeks turning slightly red.
"Excuse me?" Aelita turned to see a young woman, her brown curls flowing delicately down her back. She smiled brightly at the two, and that is when Aelita caught her breath. The young woman before them was Adrianna, the princess of Wales who she had met at Phineas Lanchardo's party. Aelita remembered the rebellious English girl as being friendly, but she could not help but feel nervous being so close to someone from her past life. Yet, Adrianna showed no sign of recognition in her eyes. Maybe the wig was doing enough to disguise her? "I am sorry to interrupt, but may I cut in?"
Odd glanced nervously at Aelita before turning his flirtatious grin on Adrianna, making Aelita stomach turn. "I am flattered, my lady. If my date does not mind, I would be happy to-"
"Forgive me," she interrupted, "but I was actually wondering if I could dance with the lady myself."
Odd's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, yes of course, my lady. I'll just mind myself with the buffet."
"Thank you, sir." Adrianna curtsied as Odd reached her Aelita's hand. Aelita glanced at him nervously as he walked away. "Don't worry, I'm an excellent lead," she smiled warmly and the two began to dance. Aelita had to admit, she was must better than Odd, as the two moved together as a graceful unit.
"That's quite a handsome man you have. I have never seen him around at one of these balls before."
"He is just a good friend. He's not one that usually enjoys parties like this."
"I should say not, with those dance moves." The two girls laughed as the strings continued to fill the air with their beautiful melodies. Adrianna's smile turned small as her eyes scanned Aelita's face. "I know it's you, Aelita. I recognized you from the moment you walked in." Aelita didn't know how to reply to her. There was no point in trying to deny the fact. She simply cast her eyes downward. "The whole of Europe is looking for you, you know. Your father has your face on every ship and market from here to the mountains. I understand better than anyone not wanting to be apart of this," she nodded her head towards the rest of the dancing people. "What I don't understand is why you are here."
Aelita swallowed, glancing around to make sure no one was paying them any mind. "What do you want, Adrianna? Are you about to turn me in?"
Adrianna's eyes shot open, her mouth a perfect circle. "What? Of course not. I envy you, Aelita. I would give anything to be free of this life of social and political tyranny. I just want to know how you did it."
"I did not do anything. My father just happened to wrong the right people."
"So are you a prisoner?"
"No," Aelita glanced once more, before leaning in close. "I am a pirate."
Adrianna could not hide the shock and excitement from her face. "Aelita Schaeffer. Pirate. That sounds much better."
Aelita was growing more and more anxious the longer they danced, knowing eventually two girls dancing together would catch the attention of someone. "Listen, I have to go. Do you think anyone else will recognize me?"
"I don't believe so. Just keep your eyes downcast. That's what gave you away to me."
Aelita smiled at her old friend. "I would thank you not to say anything about seeing me tonight?"
"I would never dream of it." Aelita began to turn away when Adrianna grabbed her wrist. "If you ever need anything, write to me."
Aelita nodded, turning and walking away from the girl, her knees shaking.
X
"So, do you have any idea what this guy looks like?"
"Not a clue," Yumi said, looking over Ulrich's shoulder as the two danced in the middle of the crowd. She had been worried that she would stumble or make a fool or herself, but she had done quite the opposite. She was surprised to find that the flow of dancing returned to her so easily. The last time she had danced like this was with her father. She pushed that thought to he back of her mind as soon as it came to her.
"Let's hope he finds you soon. The longer we are here the more I worry about someone seeing Aelita." Ulrich had calmed down significantly as they began to dance. When they first linked arms he was stiff and uncomfortable, but now he seemed use to having Yumi so close to him. And she had to admit she was feeling the same. His hand in hers didn't feel as dangerous as it did familiar. Again, she pushed these thoughts back to a place so tightly locked away that she hoped she wouldn't revisit them anytime soon. "You dance rather well for a pirate," he whispered, breaking her thoughts.
"What can I say? I am a woman of many talents." Ulrich laughed as the song changed to a more upbeat rhythm. Dresses began twirling faster as men spun around to the previously choreographed tune. Ulrich and Yumi fell right in line with the rest of them, never missing a step. They became a unit, much like the night of the attack, when they seemed to fight as one person.
Yumi looked at him, but instead of seeing him clean and smiling she saw him dirty and frightened. She saw the look of death in his eyes, the unsteadiness of his sword as he tried to spare his honor while defending a ship that had treated him like a prisoner. She saw him jumping to her side when she was sure it was the end for her. Suddenly she felt riddled with guilt. She had been so hard on him in the past, yet he had came to her when she needed it most. "I never thanked you for the other day." He looked at her questioningly as she swallowed every nerve she had. "Without you, I would have died that night the Italians came. You didn't have to do what you did. Honestly, I can't say that I would have in your position. Thank you."
Ulrich averted his eyes, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "No need to thank me. I was just doing my job."
After a moment of silence, Yumi spoke, causing Ulrich to look her in the eyes. "You will always have a home here, Ulrich Stern. Not because you're Aelita's guard or because you're valuable. You have risked everything to save the lives of the people on my ship, and that is a debt I will never be able to repay. You no longer have to worry about anyone under my care doing you harm, because it will no longer be tolerated. If you wish to leave, you may do so without any resistance. But if you choose to stay, you have a family here."
Ulrich looked at her speechless. Neither of them said another word, but their gaze remained strong as they continued to sway to the rhythm of the stringed melodies.
"Excuse me, but may I cut in?" Yumi turned to come eye level with a broad chest. The chest belonged to an older man, with a beard so thick it consumed most of his torso. His round cheeks were the only indication of a smile hidden beneath the black carpet.
Ulrich cleared his through awkwardly, putting as much space between him and Yumi as possible. He nodded politely to the man and gave him Yumi's hand. As he turned to leave, Yumi caught sight of his ears turning a deep red. "I hope I was not interrupting something."
Yumi turned back towards the man and gave a polite smile. "Oh no, sir. Just casual conversation." The man took her waist and the two began to move to the rhythm of the new song. Yumi silently thanked the sea for playing a song she knew the dance to.
For a long while, neither spoke. They moved in perfect harmony despite their drastic size difference. Their eyes never left each other, his sapphire irises seemed to read into her soul. When he finally spoke, it almost startled her. "I must confess, when Howe told me he found someone truly unique, I had not quite pictured you."
Yumi tensed slightly. "I can assure you that I am more than I seem, sir. I-"
"No need to defend yourself, child. I am very well aware of what you are capable of." He dropped the hand that occupied her waist, but held firmly to her hand. The two rotated around their conjoined hands with the rest of the pairs before rejoining in their previous stance. "In any case, the job is quite simple. The cargo is already loaded on your helm. All you must do is sail."
Yumi couldn't stop her mouth from dropping. "I did not authorize anyone to board my ship."
The man chuckled, "dear girl, it is wise to know you are not always in control." He spun her underneath his hand, a non-choreographed move that almost knocked her off balance. When he returned her to her original position, she was glaring at him. He laughed once again. "Do not fret, child. Not so much as a dust spec was disturbed. I even left an extra barrel of goods for you and your crew; just a show of good faith."
"And where exactly am I shipping this cargo?"
"All of the instructions are with the cargo. I left no room for question."
Yumi blinked, finding it increasingly harder to maintain her mannerly facade. "If there was nothing for me to actually do, then why ask me to come to a ball in the first place?"
"I needed to see you for myself. I needed to know if it was truly you." Yumi was more confused than ever. She had never been in this town before, let alone ever met this man. Even if she had, she doubted she left such an impression to cause him to look to her with such intrigue. "I knew your father, you know. He was an incredible man, truly an inspiration to everyone around him. I felt honored each time I worked with him."
"I thought you said you had never dealt with pirates before," she questioned
"I have not." He leaned down close to her face. She felt a chill as his breath came across her face. "It would take a fool not to see the resemblance, Ms. Ishiyama."
Yumi's blood stopped cold in her veins. She hadn't heard that name since the night Thomas had found her on his ship.
Ishiyama.
The word danced repeatedly in her head, bringing forth memories she had long repressed. Images of her father's lifeless body, her mother's screams as she was dragged from the room. There was no way he could know who she was. Sure, her obvious Asian ethnicity left some room for question, but to be so specific and so sure of her family name? She quickly blanked her face, but knew he had seen right through her. "I'm afraid you must be mistaken. I have never heard that name before."
"We long thought you dead, Yumi. The entire royal community has mourned the death of the sweet, innocent daughter of the once great emperor. I use to visit when you were little, you know," his eyes were no longer focused on her, but some place far away, in a time she was not a part of. "You were always so full of life, and Takeyo adored you so very much."
Yumi ducked her head, avoiding his stare. It was nearly impossible to keep the emotion from her face. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I've been watching you," she snapped her head up, looking into his face. He seemed to have snapped out of his reverie and returned to her plain of conscious. "I had word from one of my men that a young Japanese woman matching your description was seen in Italy a few weeks ago. All I could do was to hope that your line of work would find you here and that my men would find you to me."
"But I don't understand. Why do you care? I don't want your pity or your charity. I was a princess once, but I am not anymore. I make my way on my own. If my line of work appalls you, then I don't think we should be doing business."
"Easy, child. I understand you did what you must after your father's death. I can't even imagine seeing what you have seen. Your father would be so proud of you."
Yumi swallowed the lump in her throat, wanting as far away from this conversation as possible. "You still haven't told me why you wanted to find me."
"Because, Yumi, your mother is alive, and I know where she is."