"Woah woah woah! An update? I thought the author died!" -You guys right now, probably.
It's been so long! But I do not want to leave this without an end. So I have returned! My baby girl is over a year old now and is the best baby you can imagine! She sleeps through the night and loves to go out to eat and sit quietly in her chair with a toy. She has just started getting some separation anxiety, but that's to be expected in little 1 year olds.
Anyways! I will finish this story, I promise! There's only a few left anyways and none of them are very long...so...
The entire chapter is in Ryou's point of view and it is a pretty long one! Lot's of action and plot twists and OOC near the end! So here is the long awaited chapter!
I felt better at the moment, as the boat sliced through the water. Again, I was the one hunting and not the one being hunted.
That morning, I ordered the crew to dump over anything that wasn't of utmost importance. A lighter ship is a faster ship and we must catch up to the Phantom Mist, no matter what we had to leave behind in the ocean. I looked through my spyglass and that's when I saw it. A ship on the horizon.
"It has to be the Phantom Mist," Malik said, mirroring my thoughts. "No doubt that bastard sailed through the night."
Yes. Akefia had to know that I would learn of his betrayal. And if there was something I'd shown him, it was that I would be diligent in my pursuit of him. I am a man scorned and I do not take lightly to it. I will capture him and he will spend the entire trip to New Providence in a holding cell guarded by two men at all times. He would survive on bread and water, if he survived at all.
Damn him to hell and his charms with him!
"He will not give up the treasure easily," Malik continued, even as I said nothing.
A small part of me wished that it wasn't him. Despite all of my harsh feelings toward him, I wasn't sure I had the guts to deliver on these terrible justices.
"I don't think the men are quite ready for another attack after last nights adventure," I said, trying to stall for time. Malik was having no part of it, as I suspected.
"It's personal now and the men know it," he said. "They are up for it. Besides, we hardly took any injuries." I could tell he was still bitter about the successfulness of Akefia's plan, as was I. He seemed to have had everything planned out perfectly from the very beginning.
"I don't want him killed."
"It might come to that, Ry," Malik sighed. "I won't risk my men's lives to keep him alive. I've set two traps before and I'm not sure I can set a third."
"Maybe we can convince him to give us the chest," I said, weakly.
"If he intended to give it to you, he would've left it with you before he took off with it. He knew where it was the whole time and you can't deny that." He's right, I couldn't deny it. He had all of the time in the world to tell me where the treasure was, but he didn't. I suspect he wanted the treasure even more than he wanted the ship.
"The ship is turning, captain!" the lookout shouted from above. I lifted the spyglass again.
"It appears to be turning this way," I mumbled.
"He must think that meeting us head on will give him a tactical advantage," Malik reasoned. I wasn't so sure.
"It's not the Phantom Mist," I said, handing him the spyglass. "The figurehead is wrong." I heard Malik heave a sigh next to me as he looked through the spyglass and confirmed it for himself.
"They're raising the colors!" the lookout called out again.
"It's black," Malik sighed again. "Not Kelly's red. And what's that? A pirate and...?"
"Death. It's Black Bart." My stomach felt like it had dropped to my toes at the ship in the distance grew closer.
"We can outsail him," Malik whispered, as if his throat had gone dry. I watched the speed at which the Royal Fortune came towards us and it confirmed my belief. My heart felt heavy with pain and I knew this was not going to end like it did the night before. No casualties? No chance.
"All hands on deck! Prepare for battle!" I yelled, quickly turning towards the deck. "Be quick about it! There's not time to lose!"
"Ryou! It's said that he has captured 400 ships!" Malik practically screamed. He was trying to keep his calm demeanor, but I could see the fear in his eyes.
"Then let's take care to make sure he doesn't capture 401," I said. My own demeanor was collected, although my heart still felt heavy and my stomach was still in my toes.
"If we surrender, he could show mercy."
"Akefia told me that he is the most fearsome of pirates. Mercy is not in his character." Malik frowned angrily at the mention of Akefia.
"He also told you that Kelly buries his treasure!"
"Calm down, Malik!" I yelled, putting my foot down firmly. "We are wasting precious time talking!"
"You're right," my friend said, quickly calming himself down. "If we capture him, he will make a fine prize."
"You don't need to take care keeping Black Bart alive," I said, eyes narrowing. "Now let's get to work." There was scurrying about the ship the likes that you've never seen. Every man was working hard, bringing out the weapons, carrying powder buckets, and preparing the cannons.
"They won't want to destroy the ship!" Malik called out as if giving a pep talk. "If they fire, it will only be to unsettle us! They will attempt to board! Be ready for close combat!" After he spoke, he grabbed a hold of my arm.
"Ryou, you'll be safer in the hold." I could see the worry in his eyes, but I dismissed it.
"My place is here with the men," I said, shaking his hand off. "This is what I was training for."
"This is different-"
"I will not hide, Malik!" I insisted. He heaved another sigh, for what seems like the 15th time in the past few minutes, and nodded.
"At least go to my room and get some of my better weapons," he said. "Here, take the key."
I ran faster than I ever had, the key to Malik's secret chest grasped in my hands. I had to hurry. The Royal Fortune would be here any minute. Throwing open the door, I ran to the chest and unlocked it. I attached two pistols to my belt and held a cutlass firmly in my hand. In my other hand, I held a knife, much like I'd seen Akefia do before. Then, I slipped a finally knife into my boot as a back up plan.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside. Are they here already? I threw open the door...
But the door way was blocked by a stack of crates.
"I'm sorry, Ry!" I heard Malik's voice on the other side of the stack. "It's for your own safety!"
"No! Malik, let me out!" No sooner had I said that, when a loud bang sounded and the ship shook fiercely. I fell, landing on my stomach, and slammed my fist on the floor. "Dammit!"
I scrambled to my feet and ran to the stack of crates. I attempted to push them over, but they were too heavy. What the hell? Why hadn't the men thrown these overboard?
Boom! Crash! There were sounds of yelling on deck.
The pirates! Could they really be here so soon? I grabbed my knife from the floor, as I had dropped it when I fell, and began pulling at the slats on the crate. If I couldn't move them, I'll just pull them apart. The slat fell away and I could finally see what was in the crates. Straw and...
"Rum? Damn those men!" Of course they would hang on to their precious liquor. I didn't want to throw the bottles, as then I would have to deal with the glass, but I quickly worked to empty the crate. As soon as it was light enough, I pulled the crate free. I was glad to discover that I was thin enough to fit through the hole I had created, and I pushed myself through slowly.
Finally, I was free and I raced for the door that lead to the deck. Before I could reach it, the door swung open and a burly man crashed through. He saw me and raised his sword, but I blocked it high and brought my knife swiftly to his side. He groaned and dropped to his knees, but I didn't stick around to see what damage I had done. I had to get to the men!
Out on the upper deck, fog circled the groups of people fighting. A man appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, but I blocked just as well as I had blocked my previous attacker. I deflected each parry and thrust until I was able to push him backwards. He fell heavily onto the main deck. I hurried down the stairs, avoiding blows and crouching to duck away from the large men barreling towards me.
I was using every bit of information that Akefia had taught me about fighting on a ship.
Rounding a corner, I almost ran right into a man, tall and slender. His skin tone mirrored my own, but his white hair was as wild as Akefia's. He was dressed as though he was in a drawing room and not on board a ship that was being attacked.
"What have we here?" he said, sizing me up with a grin. I didn't have time for small talk, so I lashed out at him with my cutlass. He caught my blade easily on his own, deflecting it back.
"Feisty," he chuckled. I frowned, but the man did little more than smile as I pushed my blade towards him once more. He blocked, and then began swinging hard and fast. I slowly started backing up, parrying and dodging, but I could feel it in my bones. I was no match for this man. I kept backing up, merely because I had nowhere else to go.
"And never, ever let a pirate corner you," Akefia said, in a low and dangerous voice.
Then, my hip bumped against the railing and I was stuck. The man lashed out with his sword and I blocked it, but my hand went numb from the force. Less than a second later, my own cutlass clattered to the floor.
"Surrender," the man said, calmly. I could feel my heart beating in my throat, but I would not back down.
"I will never surrender to a pirate!" I yelled.
"A pity," he replied, the smile never leaving his face. I watched as he raised his sword, then it was heading straight for me. He swung with such a force that I knew it was a blow to kill.
But then, there was a flash of steel and a cutlass was before my face, blocking the taller man's blow. Malik! I shifted my eyes to the right to see...
"You seem to be in a difficult spot," my savior said.
"Bakura?" I muttered, eyes wide with tears prickling at the edge.
"You've never called me that before," he said with a grunt, throwing his hand so that the taller man's sword was thrown back at him.
"Akefia Bakura!" the man said, as though he was savoring fine wine. "I'd heard that you were dead."
"You heard wrong, Bart," Akefia growled. My knees grew weak at what I heard. I had fought Black Bart and lived to tell about it? Well, not yet, I realized. Bart swung down at Akefia and the noise was so loud.
Quickly, I dashed for my cutlass and began to fight alongside Akefia. Together, we put Bart on the defensive. But he was a good, no, an amazing swordsman, warding off every single blow.
"What of Thief King Kelly?" he asked, not breaking a sweat.
"He's in the brig," Akefia responded, in a similar manner. It was as if the two were having a polite conversation while I couldn't even catch my breath.
"So this is a pirate hunter's ship?" Bart mused aloud.
"Her captain is, yes. Rather bad planning to attack him, don't you think? The only thing of value aboard is the rum."
"I don't drink the devil's brew," the pirate captain retorted with a shrug.
"Ah, so I've heard," Akefia chuckled. "That gives you no reason to stay." Lash after lash, swing after swing.
"On the contrary. I do enjoy a good fight." Then he gave a smile so wide that I thought his jaw would unhinge and suddenly, Bart pulled away and two pirates were in front of us. We were no longer two against one, but one on one, fighting desperately.
I knew it wasn't fair, but Akefia taught me not to fight fair. I pulled a pistol out of my belt and shot the pirate in his leg. He dropped to the ground in agony and I turned, doing the same to the pirate fighting Akefia. We looked around frantically, but Black Bart was nowhere to be seen.
"Why the bloody hell didn't you use that on Bart?" Akefia shouted, eyes wide as he tried to catch his breath.
"I forgot I had them!" I replied, shaking slightly. I had been so terrified it was a wonder I could think at all. "What are you doing here?"
"We were following behind you and pulled up to offer assistance," he replied, keeping his eyes plastered on the pirates attempting to climb away. "Didn't I warn you about Bart?"
"You were behind us?" I asked, startled. Only then did I notice that my ship was wedged between two mighty pirate ships. "W-why? Why do you even care? I know that the treasure is on your ship! Why-"
A pirate ran out of nowhere, attacking Akefia. Of course, Akefia easily deflected the blow and took the pirate down in mere seconds, but I was a little upset that he had interrupted my angry rant.
"Your ship is badly damaged in the hull," Akefia said, grabbing my arm gently (as gently as a pirate can). "You must board the Phantom, now!"
"Not without my crew," I said, without hesitation.
"Do not test my patience right now!" When I didn't move, he sighed, dropping my arm. "Give the order to abandon ship."
"It can't be that bad," I huffed, crossing my arms. No sooner had I said that when the ship shook violently. With my arms crossed, I couldn't catch myself and I fell hard, landing practically on my face.
"Abandon ship!" I screamed, scrambling to my feet. I grabbed a passing powder monkey. "Spread the word to board the Phantom Mist now!" It seemed like only seconds and now everyone is moving as if their lives depended on it. Well, I suppose they do.
"Let's go," Akefia said.
"No," I replied, hurriedly. "I'm the captain and I will not leave until everyone is safely on your ship."
"This isn't the bloody British Navy! No one will hold you accountable! Now come on!" He tried to drag me away, but I stood firm.
"I will hold me accountable! But a pirate wouldn't understand that."
I didn't give him time to respond. I simply turned away and shouted more orders. It seemed that Black Bart was giving the same order from the safety of his ship, as the fighting had ceased and men were running every which way, trying to escape the sinking ship. I ran across the deck, helping the wounded get across to the makeshift bridge connecting my ship to Akefia's. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed said captain of the Phantom Mist doing the same thing.
The ship lurched slightly as the Royal Fortune cut loose and began to drift away. Had we survived Black Bart?
"Akefia! Kelly is in the hold!" I called out to him.
"I'll get him, just hurry," he sighed. He rushed away and I watched him disappear. I was surprised to find that I was now the only one on the deck now. The men had left just as quickly as the pirates had appeared. I avoided looking at my blood stained ship so I wouldn't have to see who wouldn't be leaving with us. Instead, I focused on waiting. Waiting for Akefia.
The ship groaned.
"Cut the mooring!" someone shouted from the other side of the ship. "Ry! Get over here!" It was Malik. He was standing on the Phantom Mist holding his hand out across the opening. How long has he been over there? Did he abandon us immediately?
Then, with horror, I realized that the Phantom Mist was floating away slowly.
"Ryou! You don't have to wait! He's not on the crew so you have no obligations!" I couldn't believe the words coming from Malik. Malik, who abandoned me while Akefia was still on the ship helping me. Speak of the damn devil, he appeared, running out from below deck faster than I'd seen him run before.
"Kelly is gone!" Akefia exclaimed. "Is everyone else crossed?"
"All but the dead," I sighed.
"Good, now let's go," he said. I thought about jumping into the water to be fished out, but then I remembered. A sinking ship can pull anything down with it, including people. "Don't worry. Climb up on the railing." His voice was so gentle at the moment that I didn't bother to question. I just did as he asked.
Carefully, I balanced as well as I could on the railing. Then, I watched as Akefia hacked at a rope and ran towards me, gripping the piece of rope still attached to the sails. Then he jumped over the railings, catching me by my waist and the ship disappeared beneath my feet. I gasped, clinging tightly to the pirate captain's shirt. He let go of the rope and turned his body so that when we landed, I fell on top of him, my fall cushioned slightly.
We were safe.
I jumped up and ran to the railings, looking over the edge. I made it just in time to see the deck of the Dangerous Lady get swallowed by the sea. The mast was still visible, but I knew that it would be gone soon.
Looking beyond that, I could see the Royal Fortune sailing away. On the main deck, Black Bart and Thief King Kelly were standing side by side, like old friends. They were grinning wildly like the madmen that I knew the were. Akefia finally stood, catching his breath, and walked up to me, checking to see the damage.
"Akefia Bakura! We will meet again, matey!" Kelly screamed across the water.
"I look forward to it!" Akefia replied, just as loudly. As the Royal Fortune disappeared into the mist, you could hear Kelly's laughter echoing across the waters. Then, our pirate savior turned to his crew.
"Quickly!" he yelled, "Unfurl the sails and put some distance between us and the damn Royal Fortune! Set course north by nor'east!"
"Aye!" There was movement among the men standing as they rushed to their posts. That's when I noticed that every surviving member of my crew was on his knees in the center of the deck, not a weapon among them.
"What...?" I mumbled.
"My ship, my rules," Akeifa sighed, knowing I would disapprove. I watched him as he walked towards Malik who had his eyes narrowed. "Ishtar! On your feet!"
I saw Malik's frown deepen, but he dare not disobey and stood slowly.
"They say fifty lashes will kill a man," Akefia started, crossing his arms. "So I think I will just give you forty-nine. And every morning, you will receive another forty-nine."
"Don't bother! I can take fifty easily!" Malik retorted, eyes burning with hatred. I was too stunned to say anything, so I just watched the two men.
"Good, but in truth, I don't think you can take five," Akefia chuckled. "Rafael, take Mr. Ishtar to the brig." A huge man stepped forward, saluting, and grabbed Malik's arm roughly.
"If it's the last thing I do, I will see you hanged!" Malik growled as the burly man led him away. I thought he would protest more, but he didn't. I guess he realized that he was at a disadvantage aboard a pirate ship with Akefia as it's captain.
"Ryuji!" Akefia called, ignoring Malik completely. "The articles, please."
The man who had lied to me and been my cook for our journey suddenly appeared. His one hand lay limp against his side but the other hand was holding a set of papers. I suspected that he did not fight on our ship, but instead had been hiding in his room. The coward.
"Gentlemen!" Akefia called out loudly. He was using a voice that a captain would use as he began to pace in front of the men on their knees. "The ship you are on is a pirate ship, and pirate ships have a strict set of articles. You are obliged to either sign them or you will spend the remainder of the voyage in the brig alongside Mr. Ishtar where you will, no doubt, parish from listening to his long winded rants about the evils of piracy."
A few of the men chuckled. It seems that it was an inside joke among the men.
"Ryuji! Read the articles."
"Aye, aye!" the man spoke up. Another man took the scroll of papers and unfurled it so he could read them. "Number one. If any man hide his loot and defraud the company, he shall be marooned instantly. Number two. Men are obliged to keep their cutlasses and pistols clean and fit for battle at all times. Number three. To desert the ship or quarters in time of battle is cause for marooning or death."
I wanted to speak up and ask if Ryuji had done that, but I held my ever curious tongue.
"Number four," Ryuji continued. "No striking of a fellow mate onboard. All quarrels are to be handled on shore. Number five. Each man will receive and equal share of the prize. That's all we have, gents!"
There was a mumbling among her crew as I could see wide eyes of fear and confusion. Akefia stopped pacing momentarily and stood in front of them.
"For those of you who are squeamish with pirating, rest assured, we have no plans of capturing any ships before we reach our destination." That seemed to get the crews attention. "Once we reach our destination, you may disembark and go on your merry way. Until then, you are either with us or in the brig."
One by one, I watched as my men came forward, signing the document and identifying themselves as pirates.
"What will it be, Ryou?" Akefia asked next to me. I'd been so busy watching the men that I had't heard him approach.
"You're asking me to become a pirate," I muttered quietly. This was all too much to take in.
"No. I'm asking you to honor the rules of the ship."
"And if I don't sign, you will put me in the brig?"
"Not if you give me your word that you won't instigate a mutiny." That surprised me more than anything else that had happened so far. I jerked my head around to stare at him.
"You trust my word?" I asked, astounded.
"I do," was all he said.
"Fine, then you will have it," I said, nodding my head. "I will not instigate a mutiny."
"Very well," Akefia said. "Then the captain's cabin will be readied for you." He started to turn away, but I grabbed his arm.
"You...you're not really going to take the cat to Malik, are you?" I asked quietly, frowning.
"Do you love him?" Akefia asked in response, not giving away any emotions.
"He's my friend and he's been a good quartermaster," I told him. "Please, just don't bloody his back!"
"Oh, what do you take me for? A barbarian?" he chuckled, touching my cheek gently. "I never had any intention to take a lash to him, but I don't want him sleeping soundly either."
"I don't think any of us will sleep soundly until we reach the port," I sighed, drawing away from him slowly. "Which port are you taking us to?"
"New Providence."
"What?" I called out, turning back to him with my eyes wide. "They'll hang you there!"
"Probably," he shrugged. "But we have a chest filled with coins to deliver."
"The treasure?" I asked. The surprises just kept growing. "You were bringing it back to me?"
"Don't say that like I'm a hero!" he retorted. "It's just not as much gold as I remember. It was hardly worth the bother." And yet, he did bother.
"Thank you." He shook his head.
"Words are not a fair trade," he said. "I want tonight. And every moment until we reach the port."
I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded. At this point, I would do whatever he asked of me.