Chapter XXV

The Endless Storm (Part III)

'He's white enough.' The first mate told him as they stood in front of the cell.

'He does not look like a ghost.' Heero insisted.

'Ye should've seen the ship.' Howard, who stood right behind them, added. 'If 'e ain't a ghost, Capt'n, then I've no idea what 'e is.'

'Have you talked to him?' Relena asked, watching the man rock back and forth with his head in his hands.

'We tried to. We did, but the fella doesn't say a word. All 'e did was stare at us with big dead-fish-like eyes. 'E was alone on board that ghostly ship.'

'Yet somehow ye persuaded him to come on board and lock 'imself up?' the captain was not convinced.

'I want to talk to him.' The first mate turned to him, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. 'Alone.'

He frowned minutely at her, but that was as much of his displeasure as he was willing to show. She doubted that, with Howard around, he would display any sort of feelings towards her be them good or bad. 'Why?' was all he asked.

Relena stepped closer, fisting her hand on his lapel in a silent request for him to lean in, then whispered for his ears only. 'We both know you ruined our previous negotiations with a spirit.'

Heero pulled away, glancing briefly at the old pirate to make sure he had not overheard – Howard had an amused, but seemingly clueless look on his face – then his frown deepened. He could not deny the truth. 'Very well… But make it brief.'

'I will.' The blonde said, smiling at the two men as they made their way up the stairs. The older having to be practically dragged by the younger.

With the captain's vote of confidence goading her onwards, the Peacemillion's first mate approached their prisoner. He did not seem at all aware of her presence so – once she had reached the metal bars – she cleared her throat. The lost, empty expression Howard had described appeared on the man's face, but as she stood there, frozen to the spot, recognition seemed to dawn on his face. 'Amelia…' he whispered as if calling out to her.

'No, I'm not…' she did not finish. He was no longer looking at her, but weeping into his hands as he resumed rocking back and forth. 'Please, sir… Won't you tell me what's wrong so I can help you?'

He was not old, she noticed. Certainly no older than fourty. Could he really be the one the old woman was waiting for? If he had really died this young Relena could not even fathom how many lonely decades his betrothed had spent waiting for him, not knowing he was dead, but praying the next tide would bring him back to her.

The ghost shook his head. 'I'm sorry, Amelia… I'm so sorry…'

She did not try again. The young first mate could see she would not get through to him. He had retreated back into his jumbled mind… There was no bringing him back at the moment. At least Heero would be happy… She had been way briefer than either of them had expected. 'I'll find her.' Was all she could offer him. 'I'll find Amelia and I'll bring her to you.'

There was no answer, no sign that he had heard her at all. Relena took the stairs back to the upper decks, feeling somewhat defeated. She had wanted to have something, anything to show the captain for her efforts. Now, she would have to go back to convincing him – empty handedly – that they needed to return and talk to the old woman again. Or try to.

Trowa, who was petting Shadow with the solemn look of a rebuked child, motioned towards the forecastle with his eyes as soon as he saw her. Most of the crew was resting, recovering from the awfully long night and Heero was alone at the bowsprit, for once able to bask in some quiet as he did nothing but stare at the horizon. She knew he had barely slept that night, but she also knew he was not the kind who'd allowe himself a minute's respite before everything was back into place.

Relena was out of place. She felt out of place in his life even after what had happened, even though she knew she did have a place in his heart. He seemed to be trying to make a place for her though, she knew so, but he was conflicted. What was she after all? What did he want her to be? They both knew what she wanted to be to him, but that was not the point. She had to wait for him to wrap his mind around everything that had happened, she had to wait for him to tell her where they stood.

'So?' he asked when she was close enough. Zero walked the railing beside parrot greeted her by name, making her smile.

'He spoke… But he wasn't exactly coherent.'

'Hn.' He nodded, not asking for more.

'I still think we should return to the old woman, Heero. These two must be connected. There cannot be a coincidence as big as this.'

'I agree.'

She had not expected such prompt agreement. It left her speechless and that brought a smug smile to his lips. He must have really been tired, she mused treasuring that smile like nothing else. 'Will you let me go then?'

'Aye, but I'm coming with. Even if I have to stay hidden not to anger the ghost.'

'We could take a couple of the others if—'

'Numbers won't make a difference against a spirit. If she attacks, we can only run.'

'I can run by myself. I hope you've taken that into consideration when you decided to come.' Relena could not resist baiting him, sensing the mood between them had altered drastically from what it had been the day before.

'I just wish to make sure ye run in the right direction.'

Anyone else might have thought he was being serious, even condescending in a way, but it was still there, that tiny little smile that only she could see. The first mate suddenly ached to touch him, kiss him, but she would not dare. Not with the others so close, not before they had figured out where this was going. It would be too much, too soon. 'Should we go then?'

'Aye.' He pushed away from the railing, trying to ignore the way the look in her eyes had affected him, accelerating his breathing and heating up his blood. And to think for a second he had believed he could stop wanting her… That woman was under his skin, crawling. There was no getting her out.

XXX

The old woman was not where they had left her. Relena's hands grew cold at the realisation and she twisted them nervously as she looked around in search of any traces of the ghost. Her slightly wide, frightened eyes met Heero's when he stepped out of the underbrush. 'We'll have to walk further into the village.' He informed her.

'No, not you. We agreed it would be safer if you stayed out of sight.' She tried to sound authoritative, confident, so he would submit to her wish, but only succeeded in sounding like she was pleading.

The captain's eyes narrowed a fraction. 'At this point, we cannot tell if me hiding behind the bushes is going to make the smallest difference, but I'm certain me being with ye is.'

'Hiding really won't make any difference.' The ghost's voice seemed to surround them. Against her better judgement, Relena's hand reached for the sword on her hip. It no longer felt like an old woman's presence, but like a real monster's. 'I told ye to leave me be!'

'I know you did! We did not mean to disrespect your wishes! We've only come to help!' the first mate waited. Though her eyes kept searching for the ghost amidst the empty huts around them, she could find nothing. Heero's back was pressed against hers as he too tried to spot any signs of the old woman or whatever remained of her. 'Won't you, please, come out and talk to us?'

'No.' the voice came from everywhere and nowhere at all.

'If needed…' the captain turned his head sideways so she could hear him whisper. 'Can ye truly wield that sword?'

'Aye.' She sounded as confident as she felt, which was probably way more than she should. 'My brother taught me.'

'I've seen what you've done!' the ghost cut in, oblivious – or so they hoped – to their quiet conversation.

'What…' Relena could only think of one thing they had done between meeting the spirit for the first time and now.

'She's talking about the other ghost.' Heero redirected her stray thoughts. She was glad they had their backs to each other and he could not see her red face. 'We've done nothing!'

'Ye had Emil imprisoned in yer ship! Ye lied to me! Ye let 'im die!'

'No!' the blonde woman was horrified at the mere prospect. 'Our crew found him during the storm. He was already dead, died a long time ago, trying to get back to you. It was fate that brought him to us.'

'No…' dark clouds had started assembling over their heads once more. 'Ye killed 'im and kept 'im away from me! Ye lied… What is it ye want?'

'What we… We're only trying to help!'

Thunder rumbled. Heero looked up and it was as if he could see a lightning blooming right over their heads. He turned, pushing Relena one way as he threw himself in the other. They fell on the sand just as it struck and their wide eyes met across the charred stretch of ground where they had stood mere seconds earlier. The captain noticed the first mate's eyes grow even larger as she glimpsed something over his head. Her lips moved but he could not make out her warning amidst the roar of the cloudy skies.

'And now ye'll pay.' The ghost's voice was suddenly right behind and above him.

'No!' there was an edge of desperation to Relena's voice that made his heart ache, but – though her shout faded – the pain in his chest only grew worse. He clutched at it, choking and gasping for breath, but his hands found nothing. No blood, no hole. Nothing except the spirit's cold aura seeping into him. 'Stop! Please! I beg you! Please, stop!'

The old woman was killing him, her deadly fingers somehow wrapped around his heart.

Relena drew her sword even as tears escaped her narrowed eyes. Heero had never thought he would see such anger in her gaze and yet… Even the ghost seemed to falter. He felt the smallest of movements, deep within his breast, and suddenly he could breathe again. They knew the danger was not yet past them though.

'Why? Why stop?'

'You don't understand…' the eloquent blonde woman had a hard time finding her voice for once.

'Oh, but I do, dearie. Love may 'ave been denied me, but that's the very reason why I can see it so clearly… I've been looking out for it for so long…'

'Then… If you do know love, then… Let me bring Emil here, let him explain to you what's happened. In his own words.'

The monstrous aura that seemed to have taken over the old woman faded slightly and her uncontrollable rage subsided. In her eyes, however, Relena could still see the flame of deep hatred, a life of resentment and frustration and loneliness had buried its destructive seeds within her and now it was all threatening to come out. 'Go, but he stays here. Ye have until sunset… Or he'll be the first one to die.'

When the first mate opened her mouth, Heero could see – even through the pain – that she meant to protest. 'Relena.' He managed to croak at her, still clutching at his chest, and it pained her to realise how masterful he could sound even gasping for air. 'Go.'

'Don't die.' She ordered him through renewed tears as if her sheer will would be enough to sustain his life. With one swift movement, she dropped her sword and ran past them towards the beach.

XXX

After Heero and Relena's departure, the crew had stirred and made their way to the main deck. For some reason, they all felt uneasy. Even Trowa was fidgety though he hid it rather successfully by playing with Shadow. Duo was teaching Zero lewd words while Hilde rebuked him halfheartedly, a smile on her face. Howard was giving Rashid, Abdul and Ahmad instructions to start fixing what little they could of the Peacemillion. Dorothy watched them all pretend and grew steadily irritated.

'Nothing.' She suddenly strolled towards the lookout, stepping out of Quatre's reach before he could stop her. 'You said you told Heero the whole truth and he said…'

'Nothing.' Trowa confirmed. 'Aye. That is what I said. Ye think I'd lie? What reasons would I have to?'

'Oh, I don't know… Perhaps you laid all the blame on us? And made yourself look as innocent as that parrot!'

'Innocent.' Zero echoed, raising his foot.

'Whoa! How d'ye do that?' the braided pirate turned to her wide-eyed. 'I've been standin' 'ere forever an' the bastard hadn't said a word!'

'Bastard.'

'Ha! I did it! Ye see that, Hilde?'

Dorothy rolled her eyes at him, turning back to the other man. 'So?'

'What is it ye wish me to say? That I lied and Heero promised to keel-haul ye all when he returns? I told ye the truth. I was as honest with ye as I was with him and he said nothing.'

'Did he look angry?' Quatre asked nervously. 'He looked angry, aye? Of course, he did. See, Dorothy, he's planning his mortal revenge even as we speak.'

The blonde woman looked doubtful. 'How did he look?'

All eyes were suddenly on Trowa and he petted Shadow quietly before standing up and drawing a very deep breath. 'He looked…' the crew waited with bated breath. 'He looked… Fine.'

'Oh, god…' Dorothy moaned hopelessly. Beside her the blonde man sighed, smiling resignedly. The others still seemed to be trying to figure out how 'fine' could assist their cause in any way. 'You've known him the longest, Barton. Try a little harder will you?'

'He…' the lookout's face scrunched up as he tried to remember and to put what he had seen into words. 'He wasn't angry. He wasn't jolly either, but… He wasn't angry. I don't know what measures he's going to take or if he'll take any measures at all, but… He wasn't angry.'

'Pull me up!' a woman's voice cut in then and they hurriedly made their way to the railing to find a dishevelled, flushed, breathless Relena looking up at them with the eyes of one possessed. 'Pull me up now!' she demanded.

'Heero may not be angry but someone certainly is.' Abdul whispered aside to Rashid, but the big man did not look at all amused.

She barely gave them a second glance and – as soon as her feet hit the deck – was running towards the stairs, down to the lower decks and gone from their view. No one dared speak, no one dared move. Thankfully, the stagnation did not last long for the first mate returned just as quickly, her hurried footsteps heavy and loud against the wooden boards. 'Where is he?' she asked and for some reason Quatre thought she would break down right there and then, her voice seemed to get caught in her throat and her cheeks looked tear stained.

'Who?' Hilde asked frowning.

'The ghost. Where is he?'

'In the brig. Didn't ye see 'im earlier?' even Duo looked worried.

'He isn't there.' Relena said and, at last, began to weep.

'Well… Whoever thought a cage would hold a ghost is indeed a genius!' the sight of her distressed friend seemed to feed Dorothy's anger.

'Find him!' Quatre ordered and the look he sent the crew's way had them all rushing away to search for their lost 'prisoner'. He turned back to the first mate with a painful gaze. 'I assume Heero's in trouble? I thought so… Can you tell us what happened?'

She closed her eyes, took a deep shuddering breath and nodded. They would find a way. They had to find a way.

XXX

'If I were an emotionally unstable ghost where the fuck would I go?' the braided pirate mumbled, scratching his head as he walked around the brig seeing nothing. 'Oy! Hilde! If ye were dead where d'ye go?'

'Uh…' the black haired woman pushed a barrel back into place. 'To heaven? How am I supposed to know?'

'That's not what I meant.'

'He's not here…' Trowa shook his head. He looked grim.

'Ye don't think he could've just… Ye know… Poof!'

'Maxwell… What are ye trying to say?'

'Couldn't he have made it back to 'is own ship? He might've had a limited time away from it.'

'Back to the storm?' Hilde was horrified by the mere prospect.

'Bastard.' Zero said from Duo's head.

'That's right, birdie.' The braided man nodded gravely. 'Bastard.'

'However are we going to find him?' the black haired woman groaned.

'I really don't know…' the lookout confessed.

'And whatever it is that Lena needs him for… It seems pretty serious.'

'Aye. I thought so too.'

XXX

Howard searched behind every barrel, inside every hammock, beneath every blanket, amidst heaps of old rope and spare sail. Ahmad helped. They found nothing. Rashid and Abdul joined them mere moments after they had given up. They too looked rather discouraged and hopeless. Even Auda, who had been sleeping off his sickness ever since the storm, was stirred awake by the heavy mood.

'What's wrong?' he asked, his mind still foggy, and rubbed at his face.

'We lost him.' Ahmad told him gravely.

'What?'

'The ghost. We lost him.'

'The ghost? What ghost?'

'The one we rescued! Last night, during the storm! You couldn't have been that far gone, man.'

'Oh… So that wasn't part of the dream? I was talking to him just moments ago! It could only have been a dream.'

'Hmm…' Rashid scratched his beard. 'What do you think, Howard?'

'I think ye should tell us what he said, lad.'

'What? In my dream? But… I can barely remember.' Auda tried to disappear back into his hammock to no use.

'Ye' can do it, lad. C'mon! There's a damsel distressed over this!' the old grey haired pirate goaded him on. 'And she's quite a beauty at that… Wouldn't ye like to help 'er?'

Images of seductive women, real mid-eastern princesses flashed through the Arabian man's mind. He would save the day, he would get the princess! His hands squeezed his head and he shut his eyes, trying hard to recall his dream.

'Whatcha doin'?' Duo's voice cut through the silence as he and his group returned from the brig.

'Auda's trying to remember his dream…' Abdul told them.

'Remember his dream?' Dorothy's head appeared at the top of the stairs. 'We need to find a ghost! And we need to do it now! Do you want the captain's blood on your hands?'

'What?'

'The captain's blood?'

'I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be the other way around. She was trying to threaten us, aye?'

'Why would Heero's blood be on our hands? Oy, Dorothy! What's going on?'

'There's no time to explain!' the blonde woman growled, rolling her eyes in exasperation. 'Just find the damn ghost!'

Amidst sighs and mumbled complaints the crew started making their way back to the upper decks. It was then that Auda shouted. 'I remember! I remember now!' his grin was a wide one. It made the others pause and peek at him over their shoulders. 'I remember what the ghost said! Do I get the lass?'

'Son, I wouldn't lay me hands on that one lass if I were ye. Unless ye do wish to end up with yer blood on Heero's hands and not the other way 'round.' Howard advised calmly.

'Come up with us. We should tell Quatre.' Abdul told him.

They did not give him the chance to decline. Rashid already held him by the arm as he helped him off the hammock.

XXX

'Hurts don't it? Heartache.'

Heero would have laughed at that – a cynic bark of a laugh – had he not been so busy cold-sweating and grimacing. 'Been through worse.' Was all he managed to say, more for his sake then hers. He had been there, he had been abandoned too, the difference was that he had been sure he would never see Relena again whereas the old hag was left in the dark and full of hope. Hope was a dangerous thing.

He felt her move lightly and knew she was elaborating a worthy riposte. It surprised him when it never came. The silence stretched, giving him time to gather enough strength to force his head up. She had seen something, something that gave her pause. He briefly wondered if it was his first mate already returned, but it was the second ghost's eyes that met his.

'Amelia…' recognition dawned in his previously unseeing eyes.

'Emil.' She broke out of her trance, her tone wishful if slightly incredulous.

The Peacemillion's captain could not think of a worst place to be at that moment than in the very middle of the spirits' dramatic reunion.

'Ye didnae waste time, did ye?' Emil suddenly looked truly disgusted with her. 'Stealin' some other bloke's heart…'

'Nay, me love! This ain't what it looks like!' Amelia finally pulled away from him and Heero remembered how to breathe. There was so much air rushing into his lungs that it overwhelmed him. He knew he better run, especially if the ghosts decided to have a go at each other's throats, but his legs refused to obey him and he ended up having to take pity on his body for once. In the deepest recesses of his mind, he wondered what Relena would have done.

'What's it mean then?' the second ghost demanded.

'I was only…'

'She was trying to kill me.' The pirate spoke up, finally accepting that diplomacy was his only weapon against incorporeal beings.

'Why?' Emil frowned as if he could not comprehend. The old woman's face was one of horror. She feared he would leave her. Again. 'Why'd ye do such a terrible thing?'

'I… I thought they'd killed ye! Imprisoned ye!'

Heero cursed himself mentally for his faux pas, but then again this was his first mate's area of expertise not his. He tried to make amends. 'She couldn't stand to see others happy when she'd been so long denied her own joy.' He explained gravely.

'That true?' there was a trembling edge to the male ghost's voice then, but the captain could not tell if it was a good or bad sign. He wondered how fast he would be able to escape if things took a turn for the worst. 'Did it pain ye that much?'

'After half a century spent waitin' for ye, love…'

'I never asked ye to wait for me.' Emil shook his head, saddened by the realisation that something he had not said had caused so much torment to so many people, including the woman he loved.

'Nay…' Amelia conceded, reaching out to him with trembling wrinkled white hands. 'Ye pushed me away… Said ye wouldnae come back.'

'Aye.' His eyes softened at that, in a silent apology. He felt truly sorry for her and the things he had done. Heero could tell, he knew that feeling as well. 'Why wait then? Why hope, woman?' Emil's sadness quickly turned into anger. 'Ye should've moved on! Ye should've gotten married to some other fella! Had children! Ye should've been happy!'

'How could I?' she shouted back suddenly just as angry. 'How could I when I knew within me heart of hearts that ye loved me? That ye always would?'

'I did not!' he immediately denied it, as if offended, but the pirate thought he sounded like a child so farfetched was his denial. Ultimately, it was himself the ghost man was trying to fool, not Amelia.

'And yet ye died on yer way back to me.' Her words were like a bucket of cold water over the burning embers of his rage. Emil's face fell and he gaped wordlessly at her. 'What would've happened had ye made it 'ere and found me married to some other fella?'

'I…' he crossed the distance between them. The ghost woman stepped through Heero to meet her beloved half way. It was when they noticed the small leather pouch he somehow held in his incorporeal hands. Amelia gasped and tears welled up in her eyes. 'I would've snatched ye and taken ye with me.'

The captain watched as – after that most tacky of love declarations – the two haunted beings fell into each other's arms, and wondered if Relena would be much longer. He feared if he watched anymore of that ridiculously heartfelt, excessively melodramatic reunion he might die of his own accord. It just… Hit so close to home and he absolutely refused to end up like that. It was pathetic really, all the unnecessary suffering they had gone through… It made Heero sick just thinking about it. To think he had almost done that to them… To Relena…

A strong wind came from all sides then, seeming to converge right where the ghosts stood. It was so strong he had to close his eyes in order to keep the sand off them and hope no palm trees fell on his head as he did so. The wind howled so loudly he could not even hear his thoughts, not even the violent rustle of leaves or the agitated waves around the isle. And then, just when the pirate thought the winds could not scream in his ears any loudlier and the sand could not swat at his face any harder, it stopped.

It all stopped and there was a defeaning silence as sand, leaflets and straw fell all around him like a bizarre sort of rain. Heero was relieved to note the spirits were nowhere to be seen. All that remained of them was the small leather pouch.

XXX

Relena had just regained complete control of her frazzled nerves when the crew emerged from the lower decks. One by one she searched their faces, eager to find the ghost's among them, but when she realised everyone was back on the main deck staring worriedly at her she knew they had been unable to find him. She opened her mouth, turning to ask Quatre what they should do when Rashid stepped forward, pushing Auda ahead of him.

'Auda has talked to the spirit in a dream. We figured it might mean something so we brough him to tell you.'

Her hopeful gaze met the young Arabian man's and – for some reason – he blushed and stuttered, making his crewmates laugh at some internal joke. The first mate felt a surge of impatience remembering that the clock was ticking for their captain, but she clenched her jaw and forced herself to give Auda the time to compose himself.

'T-the ghost… H-he… He asked where we were docked and thanked us for bringing him here. T-then he assured me he had regained his senses and that he was going to… To fix things. To make things right… Those were his words.'

'To make things right…' Relena whispered as realisation slowly, but surely dawned on her. Wide-eyed she turned to Quatre. 'He's already there! He was headed there all along!'

In a second, she was on her feet, but the next a wind so strong started blowing it sent not only her but all the standing members of their crew to their knees. The Peacemillion tilted sideways and moved slightly around the anchor until her bottom hit a sandbank. They had to brace themselves against the wooden deck not to fall on their faces. Expletives and lewd words echoed faintly around the first mate and – in the periphery of her vision – she could see Trowa shielding the panicked parrot from the force of the gale.

And then in an awfully loud 'whoosh' it was all over.

Relena scrambled to her feet, trying to push her hair out of the way and failing rather miserably. The wind had turned everyone's hair into a mess. Dorothy's face was barely visible beneath hers and she had to put up with Duo's laughter as Quatre tried rather desperately to disentangle her. 'Just give us a moment.' The blonde man begged her.

'I need to go.' She told them, shaking her head and grabbing the end of the rope they had earlier used to pull her up, she practically leapt off the ship.

The ghost had made it there without her… which meant the old hag no longer needed Heero. She no longer need him, which meant… It meant… She blinked back tears stubbornly. It meant the old woman's ghost must have let him go. Relena categorically refused to contemplate any other possibility as she raced wildly through the underbrush, not caring if she got scratched again by any straying branches. She hurried only because she missed him and certainly not because she thought he might…

He erupted through the trees then, right ahead of her. Pale, covered in sand, somewhat unsteady on his feet, but alive. She met his eyes as they both halted and let out the deepest breath she had ever held before taking in an even deeper one. The relief was so great she thought she would faint, so she closed her eyes listening to his measured steps as he approached her. When he stopped merely an inch way, she smiled widely and opened tearful eyes to find a scowl on his face.

'What… Are you hurt?' her eyes skimmed over him followed by her hands, but there was no sign of any injuries. Maybe internal ones? 'Heero, speak! Tell me what's wrong! You're starting to scare me!'

'Let's be together.' He blurted deadly serious and, in her shock, she could only gape. 'Now. Let's be together before it's too late.'

'Oh… Ah… Alright.' Relena nodded. His near-death experience seemed to have really affected him. He stretched out his hand then and in it she saw a pouch, her fingers wrapped gingerly around it. 'What is it?'

'A reminder.'

She did not find it in her to question him, at least not at that moment. Inside the pouch a humble collection of buttons stared up at her. 'Does this…' her timid voice broke through his thoughts. 'Does this mean we can tell the others this time? That we no longer need to keep it a secret?'

He opened his mouth to say 'nay', but there was such raw hope in her eyes… The captain knew they would not be able to keep the farce up for long either way, and it would put an unnecessary strain in their relationship. 'Aye. No more secrets.' If the crew decided he was no longer worthy of his post then so be it. After all, he would still have Relena and – he suddenly realised, watching as a wide grin lit up her face – she was all he truly needed.

XXX

'Gents! And ladies…' Duo wriggled his eyebrows at Hilde, who giggled, before resuming his pacing. 'We've fought for this ship! We've bled for this ship! We stayed after Lowe's "death" because we had faith!'

'What's he talking about?' Auda asked Abdul in a whisper. He received a shrug for his efforts.

'We'd faith our new capt'n'd do right by us! An' hasn't he? Ain't he still? To this very day?'

'Aye!' Dorothy, Hilde, Quatre and Howard seemed to have gotten into whatever mood the braided man was trying to create. They raised their muskets, pistols and swords above their heads.

'Aye!' Zero shouted from Trowa's shoulder, receiving raised eyebrows in return.

'Didn't we suffer through his bad moods and fits of rage? Every single one of 'em?'

'Arrr!'

'And now that we've moulded and shaped 'im the way we wanted… Are we gonna let a couple o' ghosts take 'im away from us? Or are we gonna fight?'

'Arrr!'

'Are ye' with me?'

'Arrr!'

'Then let us go kill some ghosts!'

Rashid exchanged a look with Trowa both cringing slightly at the others' noise. The remaining Maganacs had decided to join in on the yelling too as the group advanced towards the trees. Thankfully, for the quieter crewmembers, their captain and first mate broke through the underbrush before their charge could go any further.

'Ye in charge now, Maxwell?' Heero questioned, raising an eyebrow unamused.

'An' I was even likin' it too!' the braided pirate protested. 'Why d'ye have to ruin it? We were doin' some fightin'!'

'The ghosts are gone.' The captain told him and the others behind him. 'The curse has been lifted.'

'Are you sure?' Quatre stepped forward, he sounded hopeful though also slightly sceptical. 'Can we set sail without fearing a storm then?'

'Aye.' Heero glanced up at the sky. It was blue, not a single cloud in sight. Not that that could not change in the blink of an eye were the curse still active, but if solving the ghosts' problem had not assured their way off the island then he did not know what would. 'We should be able to leave without worrying.'

'So you're alive.' The blonde man noticed almost as an afterthought.

'Hn.'

'How d'ye escape?' Duo was already looking forward to a good tale.

'That's right!' Relena stepped around him so she could meet his eyes, her arms akimbo. 'You never did tell me.'

To everyone's surprise, the captain smirked like someone who has a secret everyone wants to get their hands on. 'Are ye rested? Should we throw the net see if we can catch some fish? We'll light a bonfire, have a decent meal 'fore we leave.'

Gaping, they watched him make his way to the ship followed by the Maganacs who seemed quite excited about the prospect of enjoying some food. It had been a while since any of them had eaten. Hilde stepped closer. 'What's with him?'

But the first mate could only shrug, a smile curving her lips. The braided pirate shook his head. 'Whatever it is that's put 'im in such a good mood… Let's not question our luck, eh? Oy, Hilde, where's that list of demands an' suggestions ye had for the capt'n? Ye should show it to 'im 'fore he goes sour again.'

'Oh, right! The list!' she dashed back to the ship.

'Looks like the perfect day to hang a hammock between a couple palm trees, drink some rum…' Howard mused, his eyes already searching for the perfect spot. 'Who cares if the capt'n's had a moment of enlightenment?'

'We could take a bath!' Dorothy practically squealed. 'Miss Relena! Was there a well in the village? We could take a sea bath first then a real bath. Ah! It's been so long!'

'I could wash me legendary braid…' Duo thought aloud.

'Actually, I do think there was a well…' Relena had not even finished before the other blonde woman dragged her back the way she had come.

'What about ye, Bart'n?' Howard turned to the quiet lookout.

'I'll get that bonfire started.' He said simply, but Quatre could sense the peace emanating from him. He smiled.