A/N: It took a bit of a while to get this fella out since I think it's a pretty important chapter to the story, but I'm glad we here now. Especially since this is going to be the beginning of some of the stuff I was really looking forward to writing!

Rightio! Thanks everyone for reading and for reviewing (will be replying to those tout-suite)! Really glad you're all enjoying this so far! Hope you all enjoy this chapter too! (Reviews will be very much appreciated as well!) - love from Rosa xx

P.S. Happy Easter! *bites down into chocolate egg*

Morning broke on Destiny Islands. Once more the fishermen were out piling their nets into their boats; Tifa and Aerith at their inn were clearing up after the night before; Aqua and Ven were up preparing their medicines for a busy day ahead; up at the manor, Luxord had been up for several hours with the help, getting ahead of the chores for the day. In town, the blacksmiths, the shipwrights, the traders, everyone was already starting to stir from their slumber to start what felt like an ordinary day.

Riku had been keeping watch in the town's watchtower overnight, something in his bones telling him that he needed to take a look at the horizon. Maybe it was just blind hope though... he knew it was unlikely that the Ragnarok would be back this soon even with good weather behind their sails. With a sigh, he reached down to his katana and refastened it to his hip, guessing that it had been all in his head. Maybe he could sneak back into the manor... Naminé would no doubt worry about him if he tarried too long here.

Then that feeling in his gut appeared again. Like it had been squeezed tightly to grab his attention. He glanced back to the horizon... Wait... something's on the horizon...? He leaned over the stone balustrade, peering hard to make out some sort of shape. Wait a little longer... just until you can make a shape of it...

He didn't know how long it was until the black speck on the horizon started to take a bit more shape. Black sails. Black hull. Only one ship in his mind fit those descriptors but he waited just a moment longer for the shape to confirm his suspicions. His eyes widened as, finally, The Black Pearl sailed into view. "What does Sparrow want...?" He turned on his heel to dash down to the ground level, unable to fathom why Jack Sparrow would ever want to set foot on Destiny Islands.

Ellone was up as soon as there was a call for land being sighted, almost tumbling out of bed as she sprinted out of her room. She jumped over a man who had been scrubbing the deck on his hands and knees since early that morning, pushing past another as she reached the bow and stared out. Destiny Islands... Gardenian waters. She never thought she'd be so happy to see it as she was now. "I'm home..." She wondered if Riku was still on the island or if he had gone with Squall to save her. Then her thoughts turned to wondering if Squall had avoided capture if he... if he really wasn't here. He must have by now reached Balamb.

She vaguely heard Sparrow call out for the sails to be released so to catch the wind; the Pearl was the fastest ship in the world, rumoured to have outran the mythical Flying Dutchman who was meant to be as fast the wind. They'd be in the docks before the morning sun dyed the sky completely blue.

Luxord had been alerted to the sighting of The Black Pearl when Riku had one of the boys working in the docks run up to the manor. He himself had decided to wait at the docks, partially in hope for news, and partially because Sparrow was one of those pirates you could never predict. He could easily be coming here to cause trouble; just because the island was under the protection of the Rex Pirata didn't mean that it couldn't be victim to raiding.

He sat cross legged, katana resting against his shoulder as he watched the Pearl glide elegantly into the harbour, her sails full. He noticed that they were patched up recently. Perhaps thinking of bartering for new ones if he thinks they've had it... He doubted that thought though; sails weren't cheap. That's when he saw her.

He leapt to his feet, eyes wide in a mixture of disbelief, relief and sheer joy. Puzzlement as well, but he was sure she'd give him answers soon enough. It didn't matter though. She was safe! "Hey!" he yelled out, waving his free arm wildly. He barely noticed that Luxord had arrived in the Duke's carriage, or that he was running up to join him. "HEEEEEY!"

She noticed him, waving back just as wildly as he was. "RIKU! OVER HERE!"

"Is that Her Imperial Highness?!" Luxord asked, flabbergasted by this turn of events.

"It's her alright!" Riku replied. "How on earth she's managed to get here though I can only imagine..."

Luxord blinked, rendered dumbfounded for a moment before recomposing himself with a slight chuckle. "It appears that Her Imperial Highness has taken her cousin's advice on how to negotiate with pirates to heart... he'd be proud of her."

Riku nodded his head lightly. For now, he was glad she was safe. But what did that mean for Leon and his crew? What of Naminé's brothers?

It had been a couple of days since Roxas had given him the letters, and Leon had to admit that Cloud's reaction to the news had been humbling when he told them of their contents. Cloud had merely nodded his head, muttered that he had thought as much, then proceeded to look after his younger brother through his trauma. Cloud hadn't spent the night in his cabin at all, opting to help as much as he could on the ship when Axel would takeover Roxas' care.

He hadn't expected to have felt a little lonely during the nights. He guessed Cloud's presence had a much stronger affect on him than he cared to admit.

He hissed as Terra cleaned off the stitching, looking over to him to gauge his reaction. He looked satisfied. "Well, took longer then it should have done, but it's healed nicely enough," Terra reported, reaching down for the bandages and wrapping his shoulder up. "Continue to take it easy on that left arm. It'll heal up completely in due course." He looked tired. Leon guessed it hadn't been the easiest forty-eight hours the doctor ever had, with the death toll onboard now up to seven and countless more missing, presumed dead. Leon had to officiate a makeshift funeral for the dead and the missing among his crew and the agents that hadn't made it, and they had a small memorial for the poor informants who had been the first to feel Hertz's wrath when it was too late to save them. Axel had asked for the names... they're would be more licks of flames tattooed on his arms when they returned home.

"You have slept recently, right?"

"Not much if I'm honest," Terra admitted. "I do try to get rest when I can. I'm no good passed out on the floor." He then chuckled. "Cloud has been a surprising help to me. When he's not looking after Roxas, he's helping the others with what he can."

Leon nodded his head; Zexion's comment about Cloud being a good quartermaster had sprung to mind again. "...Terra, can I ask you something?"

"Hm? What is it?"

"You're close to Ven, aren't you?"

Terra didn't respond at first, his eyes blinking wildly before his features relaxed a little. "Well... yes, I suppose I am." He started rubbing his black bindings that covered the crucifixion scars on his wrists. "Why?"

"Given that Ven now has the chance to choose his own path... do you think he'd stay with you?"

"I don't have much doubt on that chance," Terra answered. "If he wanted to go to a university to train to be a doctor, I wouldn't stop him, but I'm confidant that he'd come rushing back to Destiny Islands." He then chuckled a little. "I wouldn't be surprised if Aqua has already whipped him up into shape while we've been gone."

Leon nodded his head lightly. He wondered if perhaps he had been trying to keep too tight a leash on them... or that he had completely underestimated the Strifes. He almost had to laugh at himself when at the very beginning he had them forcibly separated from each other in order to break them and be more manageable... but it seemed now they had all shown that they were made of sterner stuff. He never would have entertained the idea that Cloud and Roxas would willingly go into the maws of danger, nor indeed Ven with his little escapade in the jungle. And Naminé... Naminé had seemed such a frail thing and yet she showed such fortitude in the face of adversity. Hell, he was sure that when they got back Riku would have trained her up enough to be able to look after herself in a bad situation. "...perhaps we inadvertently did something good for them..."

"Hm? What was that?" Terra asked. "I didn't quite hear that."

"Nothing," Leon replied, looking up. "Think I could at least spar with this arm?"

"What part of 'rest it' did you not understand?" Terra questioned, raising an eyebrow at him. "...you are literally the worst patient I've ever had."

Leon chuckled. "Well, I can't always be perfect at everything."

Cloud had managed to convince Roxas to get up onto the top deck at long last, glad to see that the youngster was actually getting some fresh air. Although he was certain there was no way things could go back to way things were, he was relieved that at least some progress to get past the trauma was happening. And so soon as well. Both stared out to the endless horizon, for the moment letting the silence fall between them as they both gathered their thoughts. It had been Cloud though that, after a moment's thought, broke the silence: "I must have seen this horizon every day since we first set sail... but this is the first time I've actually stopped to look at it."

Roxas just nodded his head, his gaze fixed on it. Cloud pursed his lips tightly... how was it that it seemed impossible to speak to his own brother all of a sudden. "...I guess it's what it symbolises that used to terrify me." That, surprisingly, earned him his brother's attention. "Well... that horizon, it's like a symbol of the world opening up to us. Or maybe us finally getting the chance to see beyond the walls of our old home." He wasn't sure why he was saying any of this... and he was pretty sure that Leon or maybe even one of the other pirates could explain this better than him. But he was going to run with it now that Roxas was showing him some attention. "I mean... all we had known our entire lives had been the country house. I know I'd been to the Royal Citadel once or twice after I reached the age, and that we all got to see the world outside of County Midgar once we were packed off to the Ifrit but... I think I knew that all it was... was us being transported from one small world to another small one."

Roxas sighed heavily, turning back to the horizon and resting his chin on his hands. "...I think I get what you mean."

"You do? Well that's a relief because I wasn't sure even I understood what I was trying to say..."

"But it's not the horizon or what it means to me that scares me Cloud," Roxas murmured. "...I ran it over in my head a thousand times... and every time the answer scares me." He was silent for a moment; Cloud was about to ask but Roxas mustered the courage to finally come out with: "I'd kill again if anyone I cared about was in danger."

Cloud could see the terror and confusion in his younger brother's body language. "...well... I'm not saying it excuses it, but I think the reason is understandable enough." Roxas glanced over to him. "I'd kill gladly if it meant it protected you, Ven and Naminé." Roxas didn't need to know just how far he would go to protect them... no, that was his -and now Leon's- secret. "Hell to consequences if I got caught doing it and it was deemed murder. I'd walk to the gallows with my head held high if it meant you were safe from harm." He looked over to the pirates. "These people know that better than most."

"Does that mean I'd be better off as a pirate then...?"

Cloud faltered a little at that question. He hadn't really given much thought to the idea for a while now... but he had to wonder if maybe he was the same too. Better off as a pirate than being a soldier. He glanced over to Roxas. "You know I'd rather you didn't but... I'm not going to stop you." He had to laugh at himself really. "It seems I'm leaning towards piracy myself a little more these days."

"Well... there doesn't seem to be much of an alternative." Roxas smiled weakly. "I... I feel like I belong here." He pushed himself up from the side. "I know it's dangerous. I know that if I get caught, there is no amount of money or influence in the world that might save me from the ultimate fate of a pirate, but if risking the chance of that happening meant I could be with these people and I could feel free at last then... then I'll do it. Happily."

"...you're still a child," Cloud responded, but he knew he had already lost. Knew it ever since they last spoke about the subject before Balamb.

"I'm coming up to adulthood," Roxas retorted. "I've known my own mind for years Cloud. I don't need you to continue protecting me." He looked at him pointedly at that. "I... I know that you've taken a lot of the brunt of Vanitas' wrath for us... that when ever I got caught trying to escape you were the one that took the blame rather then let Vanitas get angry at me. And don't think we didn't notice the few times you were..." Cloud held his hand up to silence Roxas; he didn't want to talk about it. "Cloud... what was going on? What was he doing to you?"

"...nothing for you to be concerned about."

"You're my older brother! Of course I'm going to worry! We're all going to worry!" Cloud couldn't look at Roxas in the eye. He didn't want him or Ven and Naminé to know... they could not know. He had done well hiding the welts and the nature of them. He had done well hiding the truth... or at least, he thought he had. But at least they didn't know it fully even if they did suspect something. "Cloud... you've protected us nearly all of our lives. You can stop now. Let us help you."

"...I don't need help..." Cloud pushed himself away, moving around a now fully recovered Sora who had been approaching them as he walked off to nowhere in particular.

"What's wrong with him?" Sora asked Roxas. Although put out that he'd been rendered useless, Sora was glad to have since made himself useful by helping out on the ship, even if it was only swabbing for the most part. Roxas had been excused from chores given how shaky he had been after the events in Balamb.

"...I don't know," Roxas replied. "Cloud just being his normal evasive self about certain things that he won't talk about to me." He frowned heavily. "But I bet Leon knows..."

"What makes you say that?" Sora queried, leaning against the railing with Roxas. "Did you hear the captain mention something?"

"...well, not in words," Roxas admitted. "More in like what he did." He pursed his lips together. Their conversation before the 'hostage exchange' went awry came to mind... Cloud looked like he was on the verge of tears near to the end. He frowned. Then Leon turned up before he had a chance to try and get Cloud to say something. "It's annoying that I know less about my own brother than Leon does..."

"Eh, but wouldn't Cloud say the same thing about you and Axel?"

Roxas looked at Sora, blinking slightly. "What do you mean about that? Cloud knows just as much as Axel does. Probably even more."

"Hmm... I'm not so sure about that," Sora replied cryptically. "Ah but what do I know. I'm just a bystander after all," he declared in a singsong voice.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

Sora just grinned at Roxas. "Nothing~ Come on!" He grabbed Roxas' wrist. "If you're feeling better enough to be up on the top deck rather than moping below deck, then you're definitely feeling better enough to help me out with the laundry chores!"

"He-Hey! Sora!"

Cloud didn't know why he had come here after avoiding it for the past couple of days. In all honesty, he was surprised that he hadn't burst in on Leon if he was working on something. He leaned heavily against the door, looking across at Leon's desk. There were all sorts of maps and charts on it now... perhaps Leon was looking for places that Ellone could be. Even as he approached the desk after a long moment of staring at it, he knew that this busy work he was putting himself through was only to stop thinking over what Roxas had said. "...doesn't need me protecting him anymore... huh..." His chest was becoming tight again. "...maybe it was me who needed you all more than you needing me..." His hand reached up to grip at his chest, nearly clawing at the flesh underneath his shirt to stop himself from thinking back to what it was he had been so obsessively trying to protect the triplets from.

"So this was where you were hiding."

Cloud jolted, turning around swiftly to see Leon standing there, his back now leaning against the door. "You... you move like a bloody ghost!" Cloud shrieked.

"Do I?" Leon pushed himself away from the door.

"I didn't even hear you come inside." He looked away slightly. "Unless I just didn't see you in here..."

"No, I just came in." Leon had closed the distance between them, but there was still enough space for either of them to escape if one needed to. "...you look tortured."

"...I... it hasn't been easy these past couple of days," Cloud admitted begrudgingly. "Roxas is... getting better I suppose but he won't be the same."

"No one ever is after the first kill," Leon replied. He was moving again. Cloud tensed, thinking that Leon was going to wrap an arm around him. So it came as a surprise when Leon had just opted to lean against the desk next to him, a small gulf the size of a little finger between their arms. "It's naïve for anyone to think that you just 'get better' or 'return to normal' after you take your first life, human or not."

"I wasn't suggesting that-!"

"I know you weren't," Leon sighed. "...it's been good though that you've both had each other to lean on after what happened."

Cloud tilted his head slightly, his confusion evident on his face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well... considering you had confirmation that your older brother had every intention of sacrificing the four of you for his own gains, it was a bit alarming how calmly you had reacted to it." Leon turned his silver gaze over to him; his face was completely composed. "Taking care of Roxas and busying yourself on the ship was a means of not facing it, wasn't it?"

"What are you talking about? I'm not bothered by what Vanitas did. I half expected it given prior experience."

"Cloud... he's still your family." Cloud resolutely refused to look at Leon at that. He didn't want to think about it... about what Vanitas was willing to do... what he had already shown to him what he was capable of doing. "Piece of shit that he is for doing what he did and has done to you... if it were me, I'm not sure what I would do."

"...says the man that pretty much lived a charmed life save for the pirating..." Cloud nearly jumped out of his skin when he was suddenly grabbed by the arm and twisted around, that gap now fully sealed between them as they were chest to chest. Leon's hands were tight around his arms like twin vices.

"...true that I probably couldn't even begin to understand what you've gone through," Leon murmured. "I just don't want you to continue this suffering in silence idiocy anymore. I'm glad that you've been doing all the busy work... but I don't want you to distance yourself from people that care about you in the process."

"Care about me...?" Cloud asked pointedly, narrowing his eyes at Leon. "...are you admitting to something Leon?"

"I'm not going to repeat myself." Leon's eyes darted to the left, avoiding making direct eye contact with him. This had, in Cloud's mind at least, confirmed that fact. "What I'm trying to say is that... even if you can't talk to your brothers or your sister... don't feel like there isn't anyone you can talk to."

"You make it sound like I've been trying to distance myself from everyone..."

"...well, you certainly kept your distance from me these past couple of days."

The statement of the fact caused Cloud to look at Leon in bemusement. The pirate king, scourge of the sea, terror of sailors, etc. etc. had been feeling... lonely? No that's impossible. I mean... okay I suppose we have been sharing a bed for a while now... and we've kissed a few times... and practically been inseparable... and... He had to stop himself from thinking more on it, because the more he did, the more it became apparent just how close they were now. "...it wasn't intentional."

"I know. I'm just being ridiculous." Leon's hands slowly released him, once again giving Cloud the option to move back. He didn't step back, but he did pull his form away so that they weren't chest against chest anymore.

"...how's your arm?" Cloud asked, opting to change topic quickly before there was anymore awkwardness between them.

"Hmm? Oh, it's fine," Leon responded, moving his left arm lightly. "Still needs a little rest but I can work on strengthening it now."

"Guess it'll still be a while before you can teach me how to not be 'terrifyingly clumsy' in a fight then," Cloud remarked.

"I only need my right arm." Leon crossed his arms in front of his chest, a small, sideways smile appearing on his lips. Cloud was surprised to see that it wasn't disappearing. "I could start teaching you how to fight for real today if you like."

"What? Really?" Though Cloud supposed that Leon did have a point -knowing how to duel wasn't the same as knowing how to fight for survival he had realised after what happened in Balamb- he wasn't sure if Terra would agree to Leon's claim of only needing his right arm.

"Think of it as a handicap," Leon chuckled. "You have a fair chance of beating me now."

Cloud could feel his nostrils flare slightly at that. "Are you mocking me?"

"Course not. But I would beat you at full strength." He leaned forward slightly, their foreheads nearly touching. "Though you definitely have an advantage with your tendency for spontaneity. Don't think I haven't forgotten that time you held Zexion hostage with a pen knife. He certainly hasn't."

"Guess my tendency for spontaneity is one of my more charming points..."

"That and your ability to somehow make death threats endearing," Leon remarked. Cloud opened his mouth to retort something but their eyes met at that moment... and suddenly it seemed everything around them had grown still, save for the rocking of the ship, the sound of the waves and the faraway chatter of the crew on the deck. It was odd how these days he was looking at Leon in more detail then before... and getting lost in his gazing as well. Even odder though was that Leon seemed to be having the same problem of getting lost in looking at the other. He was caught off guard when Leon's hand raised up and pushed back a flyaway forelock over his ear. "You've got freckles."

"Huh? I do?"

"You do. You've been out in the sun a lot more." Leon's hand lingered a little longer then slowly started to pull back. "It's a good look on you."

Without really thinking, Cloud's own hand had reached up to stop Leon's from moving away. The pirate's silvery eyes looked at him quizzically, a dark eyebrow lifting up, causing his scar to stretch slightly. In all honesty, Cloud was as confused about the action as Leon was. "Um..." He wasn't sure what he was even going to say. What could he say? "I..." He wondered where all of his previous bravado had gone in the past couple of days. What am I hoping for with this? "This... I'm not just a distraction to you, am I?"

Leon blinked heavily for a moment as if he was trying to comprehend what the blond was saying... and then he sighed as he finally realised what Cloud was referring back to. "It's about what I said about the kiss taking my mind off of Ellone, isn't it?" Cloud nodded his head in response. "...it was stupid of me to say that." He looked away slightly. "I was worried that you were... falling back into an old habit that I was assuming you had. That's why you had that lecture about me not wanting you to feel obliged to do it." Ohhh... I get it. He knows only so much about my past now... but he had to fill in the gaps. "It wasn't my intention to offend you if it has."

"I'm not offended by that. I just wish you'd believe me when I said I wasn't pushing myself." He knew that he was effectively saying this because... because... because you're more than just a pirate, more than just a saviour to me. He could almost smile wryly at himself for thinking that. How was it that Leon had become so important to him over time? Cloud was brought out of his thoughts when he felt warmth on his cheek, lifting his eyes up from the floor to glance back at Leon.

"Cloud... are you sure?" This time he knew the heavy meaning behind Leon's question. Was he sure to throw his lot in with a pirate? Yes. Was he sure that this wasn't something he felt obliged to do because Leon had opened the door to his proverbial unlocked cage? Yes. Was he sure that he could give Leon his full, utmost trust now?

"Yes."

"Yes...?"

"I trust you." He tried his hardest not to laugh at the subtle ways Leon's expression changed. Obviously being told he had his trust had come as a surprise if the slight widening of his eyes and the gormless look in them was anything to go by. Though it was soon his turn to be left thunderstruck when Leon closed the gap swiftly between them, giving him no chance to back out as his lips pressed against the other's. Cloud noted that Leon's hand did not move around his head as if to hold him still, remaining against his cheek while the thumb idly stroked the newly acquired freckles dotting it. His hand let go of Leon's, it trailing down the pirate's arm before settling loosely on his shoulder, feeling the brunet's muscles relax as they parted for air briefly. Once again they ended up staring at each other, as if in awe of the fact that their relationship to each other had changed like this. This time though they both were leaning towards each other. Leon's left hand slid down to the small of Cloud's back; Cloud's right hand slid up and over Leon's shoulder. He felt their noses crush against each other's cheeks as their lips met again, this time their mouths slightly parted as they greeted each other like long lost friends.

It was probably the most relaxed both had ever felt while doing this, and Cloud was willing to bet that it was because at long last they had something of a better understanding of each other. Leon was the one to pull away, but it was Cloud who opened his eyes first; Leon's remained closed, as if he was letting what happened sink in a little deeper into his mind. "Leon?"

"Hm?" Leon still didn't open his eyes.

"Is that answer enough?"

Two blue-silver eyes slowly, nearly lazily, opened. Cloud could swear that he could see the corners of them crinkling into a quiet smile. "It's enough." His hands slowly released Cloud; he was starting to understand that Leon was not going to push for more, not unless Cloud assured him that he could. "It's more than enough." He glanced over his shoulder in that moment; Cloud just managed to hear a call for the captain, though he didn't know how long they'd been calling Leon for. "I better go. Are you going to stay here for a while?"

"I'll come out later," Cloud murmured, needing a moment to recompose himself and also get to grips with what just had happened. "Call me if you need me."

It was all very sudden with Her Imperial Highness's arrival on the island that Naminé barely had the chance to ask if there was sign of the Ragnarok. As it was, she watched as everyone in the household started bustling about frantically trying to get a room prepared for her, unable to really help as every time she tried to offer she was rebuffed. Now she had taken to looking out of the parlour window, waiting for the carriage to come back from the port.

And she wondered what would now happen to her now that Riku had his mistress back at last.

The carriage was back after a long while, Riku sitting next to the driver as it appeared at the gates and trundled up to the portico. She pulled herself away from the window, walking over to the front door to go greet them. She might as well make herself even a bit useful by telling her what she knew that Her Imperial Highness might not.

The door opened just as she approached it and joined a few other servants who were ready to greet their new guest, all them bowing or curtseying as soon as the door opened. She did much the same. You can tell her your side of the story... explain to her the choices that were made... and why her cousin isn't here.

"I could get used to this," came a slow, Royalian accented drawl.

"Don't," Luxord's voice sighed heavily. Naminé glanced up and nearly baulked at the sight of a rather tawdry looking pirate swaggering into the manor's antechamber. When she looked behind him though she was greeted by the sight of a young woman in fine clothes that had seen better days, a green shawl tied tightly around her shoulders. Were it not for how she had held herself, Naminé would have found it difficult that this was a future empress of Radiant Garden standing before them.

"So Leon really isn't here," she murmured to herself. Riku stood beside her and nodded his head.

"Judging from Sparrow's tale, I suspect that you were a few days ahead of him. You might even have passed each other during that storm if they sailed through it."

"There should be a 'Captain' in there somewhere..." the odd man grumbled.

"So I am too late..." Naminé felt her body tense. Those words caused a chill to go up her spine. Cloud... Roxas... are you both safe? She wanted to approach the woman, ask her what she meant by those words. She paused when the brunette looked her way. "...you are new here. Who are you?"

"U-Um..." Naminé found herself curtseying again. "My name is Naminé, Your Imperial Highness." She kept her head down and her stance low, unsure what the customs were when greeting imperial blood in the Gardenian Empire. "I-"

"Were you one of the poor people Leon was told to kidnap in exchange for me?"

So she did know that part... "Yes. My three brothers and I."

"Where are they?"

"Your Highness, I really think you should probably-" Luxord started.

"I can rest later," the princess replied curtly. She turned her attention back to Naminé. "Where are your brothers right now?"

"Well... my brothers Cloud and Roxas went with the Duke, but my other brother Ventus stayed behind with me." She pursed her lips tightly together. "Cloud was willing to act as a decoy in order to get you to safety. Roxas stowed away to follow him." She dared to glance up. She did have very kind dark eyes that seemed more distraught that she had been too late to stop the Ragnarok... "If... if I may ask... what did you mean when you said you were 'too late'?"

The princess seemed to hesitate... and then finally she answered. "I was bait. It was all a trap to capture my cousin." She let her head fall forward in despair. "I... I can only now hope and pray that my cousin and your brothers escaped."

Naminé felt her heart clench at that. A trap... it had all been a trap... and Cloud and Roxas had been dragged into this. "No..."

"It'd take more than a trap to catch your Rex Pirata," Sparrow commented, currently toying with a vase. A servant bustled over and quickly grabbed it from him, staring at him with heavy mistrust. "He's probably already on his way back."

"But what if something has happened to them!" Naminé cried, bolting upright. She looked down as she realised that Riku had come over to her and taken her hand carefully in his own. The princess herself looked worried... but then she took a deep breath.

"There's nothing we can do for now other than to wait for word," she said. She looked over to Sparrow. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping your end of our bargain. I will make good on mine. Luxord, I ask you to send word to the Empress' Council that I have returned and will be needing privateering papers drawn up and sent here. Make sure they also know that I don't intend to leave the islands until either the Duke returns or I receive news of his fate." She then turned her dark gaze over to Naminé. "I promise that whatever happens, I will do my utmost to do my best by your brothers and you as I will for my cousin. I have no doubt that everything he has done so far has all been in hope to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed and ill-will between our two nations; Hyne willing he has managed to prevent it."

Naminé wanted to believe her... but until she could see her brothers again, she could not give the princess her full belief. She tightened her grip on Riku's hand, drawing a little strength from his comfort. Cloud, Roxas... please be safe.

It was mid afternoon when Cloud emerged from the cabin, his mind still a little dazed by what had happened earlier. He really had decided to throw his lot in with Leon... but what would that mean for him? He wasn't sure how much of a pirate he could be... but then again, Leon wasn't exactly the archetypal pirate. Reading Leon's notes from his maps and charts taught him that Leon never raided without good reason, and he wasn't the type to attack merchant ships randomly. Everything had a reason. He supposed he could get behind that sort of thinking... but then what? What would his role on the ship be? He didn't really have a skill to be of much help.

"Cloud!"

He snapped out of his thoughts, just in time to realise that something had been thrown to him. He caught it quickly, it fumbling his his hands before he had a chance to take a proper look. It was a rather basic looking rapier, the leather sheath weathered from age and being out at sea and the brass hilt tarnished. He looked up, seeing Leon was holding one himself, standing a little bit away. He took a moment to glance around; the crew had given them plenty of space, as if they had created a small arena for the pair. "What on earth is going on?"

"You never said you didn't want to start learning," Leon replied, pulling his rapier out of its sheath. He tossed that to the side, the leather being caught by a quick pirate. "It's been a while since I used a rapier but I gather you probably learnt how to duel with one."

"I did but... your arm."

"Terra's approved it." He pointed the tip of his weapon towards Cloud's throat. "Like I said, I only need my right arm."

Cloud's eyes darted about to look for Terra, finally finding the doctor standing to the side, looking less than pleased about this turn of events. Roxas was standing beside Kairi and Sora up on the ship's aftcastle, leaning over the railings to see what was going on. He glanced about... then sighed and pulled out his rapier out. "I see that I'm not getting much of a choice given the crowd this has gathered."

"Think of it as a way of introduction." Leon stood ready, waiting for Cloud's rapier to touch against his in salute. "After all, you and the crew didn't get off on the best foot."

An introduction he says... "I see." Leon was using this as a chance to see if his bite was just as bad as his bark. Though it still irritated him that Leon was sticking to his word of 'handicapping' himself by just using his right arm. His rapier blade tapped the side of Leon's. "What are the rules? First blood?"

"First to disarm," Leon replied. "Disarmament means death in real combat. First blood only means injury to self and pride." The pirate's lips quirked a little into a subtle smile. "Different rules to what you're used to I'm sure."

"And the crowd?"

"Only amount of help they're allowed to give is to push you back into the arena. No handing of second weapons, no giving the opponent the upper hand, and certainly no cheating of whatever form it may take." Leon gave a firm glance around the crew. "Is that absolutely clear?" he asked them. There were murmurs of agreement, some more begrudging than others. "Well... shall we get started?" Cloud nodded his head in response, his body tensing up.

Leon was the first to strike, Cloud quickly stepping back and parrying the attack before attempting to riposte. Leon, however, was quick to defend himself but he stood firm, leading up to a counter attack that Cloud barely managed to dodge. He responded with a counter of his own, the ferocity of it causing Leon to step back a pace. "Not bad," Leon remarked.

"What's it looking like?" Axel asked from the wheel; he wasn't really able to see given that he had to keep the ship directed towards Destiny Islands with their current wind direction. He could certainly hear what was going on though.

"Difficult to say," Kairi answered. "Neither are giving much of an inch." Her crimson hair swayed slightly as she tilted her head. "Given that Leon's hasn't touched a rapier in years, you wouldn't think that was the case at all. Cloud's no slouch though."

Sora jolted. "Ooo the captain nearly had him then."

"It'll take a lot more than a feint to disarm Cloud," Roxas declared. "He may not have duelled a lot when he went out into Society but he practised every day with his instructor." Axel could see that Roxas' form was a little hunched over. Was he worried?

"Yeah, but Leon's had more real combat experience. He'll fight as if his life depends on it." Kairi leaned over some more just as a metallic clash sounded. "He isn't doing too bad either considering his bad arm."

"How long do you think they'll go on for?" Sora asked.

"Hmm... well I thought it'd be over quickly, but now I'm not so sure," Kairi mused. "Hopefully not too much longer. They've both got to tire at some point."

"I'm betting the captain will win," Sora beamed.

"No way. Cloud's not going to be defeated that easily," Roxas retorted. "He'll win. He's fighting with every intention of winning."

Axel chuckled a little bit to himself. "Making wagers now? How much are you willing to bet?"

"I'm betting my biscuit ration!" Kairi announced. "I'm putting it on Leon."

"If the captain wins, I get less swabbing chores," Sora offered. "If Cloud does, I take on Roxas'."

"Guess that means Roxas gets your chores then if Leon does win," Kairi beamed. "Axel?"

"I'll bet my tobacco ration," Axel replied. "On Cloud winning." This took his sister and her not-that-secret admirer by surprise. Roxas too, but he gave Axel a grateful smile. Well, I did decide to stand by the kid. "If he does win, I keep it. If he doesn't, I'll give it up for the rest of the trip."

"That's a pretty risky bet for you," Kairi hummed. "You promise that if you do lose your ration you're not going to try and kill someone when you're stressed out?"

"I'm not worried," Axel stated. "Besides, I'm starting to think that I smoke too much anyway. The habit ain't cheap after all." He winced as there was a sudden sound of something – or someone – hitting against the cabin door. "Who's pinned?"

"Cloud is," Kairi reported, leaning over more. Sora quickly grabbed her by the belt before she overbalanced. "Oooooo it's looking tense down there!"

Cloud grimaced as his back slammed hard against the cabin door, glaring at Leon as he kept him pinned against it. Their sword arms were up high against their chests, the humming blades still; if either of them pushed further, there would be a chance of injury. "I thought you said no cheating," Cloud growled.

"The crew isn't allowed. I never said the combatants are above it." Leon quirked an eyebrow. "You're doing well, but you're thinking too much like an aristocrat. No one is going to fight fair or honourably in a real fight."

Cloud had to concede to that point... he had been fighting trained soldiers and pirate hunters used to fighting for their lives in Balamb. They were going to do whatever it took to kill and survive to see another sunrise. He had to do the same too. "So this will be allowed I take it." He lifted a knee with a sharp jerk, feeling it connect with Leon's stomach and winding the pirate. With him off guard, Cloud used the chance to push Leon away, watching as he stumbled backwards but, somehow, manage to keep his balance. Although he knew he ought to have charged after Leon, he needed a small breather before going after him. He watched as Leon's head lifted up... and a slow grin appeared on his face. "A little close to the crown jewels, don't you think?"

"All's fair between us right now, isn't it?" Cloud retorted. With that he launched his offence, not letting up as Leon defended himself with successful parries. Think like a pirate. Don't let up. Don't give him a chance to get the upper hand on you.

"All's fair," Leon managed to respond in the middle of a circle parry. "But you do have one weakness as you are right now."

"Oh yeah? And what's that?" Cloud asked, stopping Leon from getting a riposte and counter attacking. As he lunged forward, Leon suddenly sidestepped out of the way. Cloud lurched forward, stumbled, and nearly overbalanced as he tried to turn around quickly. Just in the nick of time to go on the defensive when Leon took his chance to attack.

"You get taken by surprise too easily when your opponent does something unexpected," Leon replied. "You need to adapt quickly as soon as you get even a hint that your opponent is up to something."

"I took you by surprise didn't I?"

His rebuke caused Leon to dryly laugh at it. "I was half expecting a kick to the groin, not to the stomach so I'll give you that." He stepped forward at that point; Cloud managed to parry and flick but Leon was quick to stop him. Shit, not enough, Cloud thought. Even as he thought that, he was too late to realise Leon's next play.

Leon forced Cloud's arm to circle with his and with a strong jerk forced his arm to the side; the force of the move caused Cloud to lose his grip. With a clatter, his rapier fell to the ground and Cloud found himself leaning back away from a rapier tip quivering towards his neck. He had lost... The crew erupted into shouts at this point, their presence only now coming back into Cloud's attention as he watched exchanges happening. Leon pulled his rapier back and passed it to his other hand, holding it to the left side and lifting his hand up to Cloud. "Not bad at all," he complimented. "Bit of fine tuning needed but you can definitely handle yourself well in a fight."

Cloud looked at Leon's hand with suspicion, but the Rex Pirata kept it held up, waiting for him to take it. Slowly he slid his hand into Leon's... then yelped in surprise as Leon suddenly pulled him close, feeling the pirate's breath fanning into his ear. "What are you-?!"

"This is your welcome to the crew," Leon murmured. "You've proved to them that you're capable."

"I wasn't aware I needed to prove myself to them," Cloud frowned.

"Not just them," Leon replied. "You had to prove it to yourself that you're capable as well." Cloud could feel the smile curl into his ear. "You'll be fine. So don't second-guess yourself." Leon let go of him slowly, passing by while his fingers lingered against Cloud's hand. He was left just standing there, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Sora was grinning widely at Roxas. "Guess that's me sorted for a bit." Roxas was just dumbly nodding his head, in disbelief that his brother had just lost.

"Cloud did pretty well though. I really thought Leon would have won this a lot faster," Kairi pointed out. "Let's not forget that this is the Rex Pirata after all."

Axel just glanced at Roxas, wondering if it had been a bit of a shock to him to see his brother lose. "Aw damn, looks like I've lost my tobacco," he mock-groaned – though he had an inkling he was going to have to go without until the end of the journey. No matter, he'll just make what he had last. "Kairi, take the wheel for a minute."

"Huh?" She looked at him questioningly... then looked at Roxas and then back to him and nodded her head in understanding. "Alright, sure." She gestured to Sora to come away with her; he did, though he had a really confused look on his face, about to ask if it was something he had said.

Axel handed the wheel over to her, hooking his thumbs into his belt loops as he walked over to Roxas. He leaned against the railing, letting an elbow rest against it. "You alright?"

"I... I guess," Roxas murmured. He looked shellshocked. "I really thought he'd win."

"Well, from the sounds of it, he did a good job going toe to toe with Leon. Don't forget that Leon's made something of a career of being good in a fight." He reached over and patted Roxas on the shoulder. "But that's not what's got you worried is it?"

"...Leon and Cloud have... been getting close, haven't they..."

Axel raised an eyebrow at that. Well, it was a given since the pair spent a lot of time together... he wondered if there was a bit of jealousy there. "What's the matter, kitten? Something happen between you and Cloud?"

"...I guess. It's not like we had a fight but..."

"It's worrying you."

"Yeah..." Roxas looked over to Axel. "Hey... does Kairi tell you everything about her?"

"Well... not everything," Axel replied. "She's allowed her secrets, just like I'm allowed mine." There were things he had done that he thought his sister wasn't really to be privy to... like his many escapades in brothels before he met Roxas for example. Though he was fairly sure she might have had an inkling of what he got up to in them. He held back a shudder as he realised one of those... 'escapades' was onboard languishing in Terra's makeshift infirmary. Yeah, that's one I might need to talk to later... "You think he's keeping something back from you?"

"I know he is. All of us know he is." He pursed his lips together. "Somebody doesn't change overnight without something happening."

"And you think Leon knows about it? That's bothering you?"

"Well yes. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that the two of them were more likely to kill each other than be friendly." Axel held back an urge to laugh at the rather adorable frustrated frown appearing on Roxas' face. "They shouldn't be that close to be sharing deep dark secrets after a short space of time."

"Roxas... we were sharing deep dark secrets after a short space of time," Axel pointed out.

"Yeah, but that's different!" Roxas looked away, cheeks a little pink from his outburst. The floorboards creaked under his shuffling feet. "You're different... so it doesn't count." Axel blinked a bit at that... then reached over and ruffled his hair.

"Well... think of it like this. Maybe it's different for those two." He leaned forward, their foreheads pressed together. "I'm not saying that they have same sort of relationship like ours, because I don't know that for certain. But maybe it's because Leon's not a close family member that Cloud feels like he can confide with him about those 'deep dark secrets' of his that he may or may not have."

"I feel like you're taking his side," Roxas grumbled.

"Perish the thought," Axel chuckled. "I'm just saying that you should leave him to his secrets. He'll tell you them when he's good and ready."

"But when will that be?"

"Who knows. I'm a pirate, not a fortune-teller."

Even as he approached them, he could already tell that Terra was ready to tear him a new one for jeopardising the healing process on his left shoulder again. Zexion had since joined him, looking fairly amused by what had happened. "Having fun, are we?" he asked.

"Well, I can be certain that he won't need much toughening up," Leon shrugged nonchalantly. "Some fine tuning of technique or attitude towards real combat, but not much else." He glanced over to Terra who was still giving him a rather chilly look. He sighed. "I get it. You want to make sure the stitches aren't compromised."

"My infirmary. 5 minutes. Or else." Terra then glared at Zexion. "You don't go putting ideas into his head."

"Terra! I'm hurt!" Zexion exclaimed in mock-amazement, hand over his heart as if the doctor's words had wounded it. "I would never want our captain to voluntarily cause himself injury!"

"Sometimes I find you hard to believe," Terra remarked flatly. He walked off, disappearing down into the lower decks. Leon sighed even more heavily, glancing over to Zexion.

"I hope you're not scheming something."

"Oh no. Of course not," Zexion replied without skipping a beat. "I take it that Cloud's given his answer then to you." Leon nodded his head. "So why the rather public 'introduction' as it were?"

"Had to make sure that he really was committed. I can't always protect or save him." Leon looked over his shoulder; Cloud was starting to get swamped by some of the crew members who were more than happy to give him a proper welcome. "...I know you think he'd be a good quartermaster, but he has to grow into that role on his own. I can't make him one overnight."

"Of course," Zexion agreed. "I suppose this was that first step towards that goal." He looked over to Leon. "I had a feeling you weren't going to coddle him."

"He doesn't need coddling or protecting, and he'd tell you that himself." Leon let out a rare genuine smile, something that took Zexion off guard for a moment. But as quickly as it had appeared, it faded away. "He'll ask for help if he really needs it. He's his own person after all."

"Quite." Zexion pushed away from his perch on the side. "Well, here's to new beginnings. Let's hope this also marks the beginning of a change in luck for us too. I'd rather find Her Imperial Highness sooner rather than later."

"Me too Zexion," Leon murmured. "Me too."