Gareki's been fully pardoned and is instated as a royal merchant captain for Rimhakka, commanding the Kuronomei and the Kuroi Hitsuji. But one Rimhakkan Councilman still had his doubts.
Notes:
This is sort of an inbetween from VTR to VTR 2.
(See the end of the work for more notes.)
Work Text:
"I look ridiculous in this get up," the ninteen-year-old seafarer scoffed looking into the mirror. He heaved a sigh. "Yogi, do I really have to wear this monstrosity?" he asked.
"It's not that bad is it?" Yogi asked, peeking through the curtains.
"It's hot and stuffy, it itches, and it's too big," Gareki complained, "Not to mention the hideously blinding colors."
Yogi covered his mouth in a failed attempt to stifle a laugh. Gareki was right. The suit was in the Rimhakkan Royal Purple with golden accents. It bunched together around his wrists, waste, and ankles and looked as if it had been made from wool, a fabric decisively not meant for seafaring. The hat with it's comically big purple plume kept slipping down on his head and covering his eyes. "Did they even measure you before they made this outfit?" the prince asked.
"I think somebody's purposely trying to make a fool out of me," the young captain complained. "I thought I was supposed to be running a merchant fleet, not a floating brothel."
Yogi bit back another laugh, grabbing the hat and taking it off the young captain's head. "You're right, it's gaudy." Yogi opened the window and tossed the hat outside, letting it sail across the courtyard. "Take it off."
"Gladly," Gareki chortled, taking off the stiflingly hot coat.
Yogi helped Gareki shed the outfit, as it's extra fabric managed to tangle itself around him. They both heaved an aggravated sigh as Gareki finally freed himself from the last piece of the outfit. "What sort of sadist designed this out fit? Do all Rimhakkan sailors wear this stuff?" Gareki huffed.
"No, but most of our merchants do," Yogi admitted. The prince smiled and pressed his lips to the raven's. "Don't worry, Handsome," he promised, " We've still got an hour before your commission ceremony. We'll find you something more comfortable to wear."
Gareki smiled and returned his prince's kiss. "Better idea, let's skip the silly ceremony and just make love instead," he suggested.
"Tempting," Yogi admitted, "Very tempting. But we can't."
"Awe, you're no fun, " Gareki teased.
Yogi caught both sides of Gareki's head in his hands and locked eyes with the young Captain. "There will be plenty of time for that after the ceremony," he promised, "In the meantime, we have to endure this little bit of inconvenience so you can finally be recognized as an official LEGAL captain."
Gareki rolled his eyes and leaned in, pushing his lips to Yogi's once more. "Ok, you win," he agreed, "But I'm holding you to that."
A group of Rimhakkan officials stood in the ceremonial hall. They were dubious about the whole affair. "What kind of person is this ' Captain' Gareki?" one of them asked.
"He's a ragamuffin from the streets, from what I understand," another returned, "Born of the lower class here in Rimhakka, placed in an orphanage, he somehow made his way to Kafka, ran away, stole his first ship, and turned pirate."
"What is his majesty thinking? A former pirate flying the Rimhakkan Royal colors?" a third scoffed.
"Be that as it may," Tokitatsu spoke up, "His brother is the new king of Kafka. His nephew is close friends with Lord Yanari of Vantnam. Prince Yogi holds him as a very dear friend. If there are any further vicious rumors about the lad you wish to divulge, I suggest you get them out now, before the ceremony begins. And let me remind you, His Majesty the King, and his Highness Prince Yogi have pardoned him of any and all crimes both here and abroad."
"This whole thing seems fishy to me," the second councilman said, shaking his head, "This is the same boy who absconded with Prince Yogi and both Princesses just months ago. The boy's Cradle Cells haven't even developed enough to allow him fly. I think Prince Yogi is simply associating with his attacker and is too naive to know the difference."
Tsukitachi and Hirato both laughed. "Surely you're not suggesting Gareki had an ulterior motive?" Hirato asked, "The lad put his life on the line to save Prince Yogi's ."
" Were you three already against this from the start, or are you just second guessing yourselves? " Tsukitachi inquired.
The first and third stammered a bit, uncertain how to reply. The second shook his head. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I have been," he admitted . "I can see a pardon on theft of food and medicine as those are a means to survive. Slave trade, even if it were on the shores of Karasuna which is under Kafkan jurisdiction, and rape on the other hand."
Hirato and Tsukitachi both frowned. They knew Gareki's methods and reasons for the slave trade. The other accusation, however, no one could speak for. Gareki had been vague on the subject. It was more than evident that Gareki himself had been an unfortunate victim of such deeds during transport from Rimhakka to Karasuna, during his time on Karasuna under Lady Mine's ownership by the noble woman's hands herself, and given the way Gareki spoke, during his time under Emperor Palnedo's ownership as well. But the old Emperor had spread rumors that the boy himself had committed the crime himself. Gareki had even bragged to Prince Yogi that he was "no stranger to having it forced" upon himself but that he had "men and women alike, both against his will or theirs and willingly on both parts as well." But in truth, Gareki had never clarified that he had never been an actual willing participant. Even when forcing himself on others, it had been by order of Palnedo, while the old man sat back and watched. Yogi was the first person he'd ever truly been with of his own free will, all the more reason he had never forced anything beyond that first interaction at the mast. But to uphold his reputation as a Pirate, he'd remained vague, allowing others to think whatever they wanted.
"We have no answer for that "Hirato amitted.
"It's my understanding this 'Captain' Gareki is the same street urchin that Prince Yogi brought home eleven years ago, like some lost puppy dog followed him home asking 'Can we keep him'," the councilman continued.
"You're the councilman who convinced everyone Prince Yogi shouldn't be allowed in the courtroom that day, aren't you?" Tsukitachi accused.
"It might have been better for everyone if we had let him keep the boy and his brother, " Hirato stated, "We'd probably still be having this ceremony today, but for someone more respectable who's actually been trained, rather than self-taught and maybe with ship he actually bought himself. "
The councilman looked at Hirato, his jaw hanging slightly open. "You mean those two ships out there flying the royal colors are stolen?" he asked flabbergasted.
Hirato and Tsukitachi both choked back a laugh. "Come, now, Councillor, do you honestly believe a twelve-year-old runaway slave had the funds to buy not one, but two ships, " Tokitatsu said, "It's because of negligence on our part the boy landed himself in a lifestyle where he had to turn to Piracy in order to survive. What we're doing is not just a reward for the lad having rescued the royal children, but to make amends for the grief we've caused him by turning him out of the safety of the castle and letting slave smugglers get their hands on him and his brother."
"I didn't steal either of them," Gareki said, entering the room, Yogi following behind him. "The Kuroi Hitsuji was already a Rimhakkan trader's ship when I border her. I stowed away in hopes to make safe passage back to Rimhakka, but the ship was besieged by pirates before it even made its way out of Kafkan waters. Everyone on board was killed, but the pirates never found where I had hidden myself, and the robotic sheep never gave me away. We returned to the shores of Kafka and I gathered a small crew of loyal followers who were also desperate to get off the shores of Kafka. Piracy being the only feasible means of survival for a group of kids on the high seas, we learned how to survive best we could. But the Kuronome IS my ship. I used the money I earned from the Kuro Hitsuji to buy her from a shipwright in Vantnam, she was big enough to stow the Hitsuji in the hull as a second ship should we have need of her. By right, both ships should have been flying the Rimhakkan colors long before now, " Gareki exposited. He turned to the three members of the royal guard. "Thank you gentlemen, for defending my honor in my absence."
The councilman looked Gareki over, now he had a new set of complaints. "THIS is Captain Gareki?" he scoffed , "We're trusting a mere boy to handle business affairs abroad? And what is he wearing? This is highly irregular." Gareki was wearing a white button up shirt that, much to Yogi's dismay, managed to cover everything from his neck, to his wrists, and all the way down until it tucked into Gareki's black slacks, which tucked into the young captain's brand new pair of sea boots. Sure the ensemble was devoid of the Rimhakkan Royal Purple and gold, but it still looked dashing on the young man and at least it fit him comfortably, and allowed him to move without trying to tangle or stifle him every time he tried to reach for something.
"You don't like what I'm wearing? Talk to your prince, he's the one who helped me pick it out," Gareki said, nodding in Yogi"s direction. "And I fail to see why my age has anything to do with anything. I've been in command of both those ships for the last seven years." Yogi frowned as it registered in his mind that Gareki had spent four long years as a slave in Kafka, under the control of Emperor Palnedo himself, undergoing who knows what sort of acts of violence and depravity before finally finding some form of freedom aboard the Kuroi Hitsuji. The prince was glad his father had agreed to this arrangement, refusing to let Gareki keep his ships and forcing the boy to find some sort of landlocked job would have been taking away the only good Gareki had ever known.
"What was wrong with the outfit you were given?" the first councilman inquired.
"They didn't fit him and the fabric was hardly see worthy," Prince Yogi interjected, "I don't know how many of you council members have been out to sea, but wet wool isn't ideal for maneuverability. Besides he's supposed to be a merchant, not a souteneur." Hirato and Tsukitachi both put a hand to their mouth and stepped out of the room in attempt not to laugh, both knowing what the traditional merchant's outfit looked like.
The councilmen were all taken aback by this comment, uncertain which had struck them worse, the fact that their Prince knew what he was talking about or that he'd said anything at all. "Our apologies, Captain Gareki," the first councilman said, trying to keep a level head, If this young man was truly friends with Prince Yogi, he didn't wish to upset either of them. "We will endeavor to find you a uniform more suitable to your liking.
"Don't bother," Gareki refuted, "My usual attire should be sufficient. It not only fit, it was comfortable and kept the more ruthless pirates at bay. " Yogi smiled, that logic made perfect sense to him.
The first and third councilman both nodded a silent agreement. The second however, he wasn't so compliant. "T-th-this just simply isn't done!" he exasperated.
"That's enough, Councillor!" The king said as he entered the room.
The councilman quickly turned to face his king, "Sire," he said quietly, with an apologetic bow.
"Your majesty," Gareki, Tokitatsu , and the other two councilmen reverently bowed.
"Father," Yogi himself bowed. The king smiled and placed a firm, but gentle hand on both Yogi and Gareki's shoulders with a bemused smile. "It may not be our traditional methods of handling things, but even I have to admit Captain Gareki's logic has a sense of merit to it. The Royal Colors during a trade might draw unwanted attention. As long as the sails are flying Rimhakkan Purple and Gold, the captain and crew can wear whatever they wish... In reason of course, while on open waters or ashore." the King granted, "Captain Gareki and his crew are coming to us from unusual circumstances. We need to make this transition as easy as possible for them."
"I request no special treatment, your majesty," Gareki said. Yogi elbowed him in the side, but didn't look at him. Gareki bowed at the waste, "But thank you all the same."
Tokitatsu poked his head out into the hall, "Hirato, come on you two, we're about to get started," he whispered.
Gareki's crew members, both princesses, the remaining councilmen, and a few other highc class witnesses, including little Lord Yanari from Vantnam were lead into the room. Yogi stood at his father's side. The Prince quietly envied the young captain after so many months at sea, the royal garb was admitidly stiff and stuffy. He was ready to get this ceremony over and get into something much more comfortable.
Each of Gareki's crew members gave their oath of fealty to the crown of Rimhakka. Nia, Ranji, Shishi, Sesirie, Yotaka, Jiki, even Kagiri and Kiharu. It was a little unnerving for some of the witnesses to see the three partial Varuga in the castle, but if Prince Yogi and his sisters vouched for the so anamitly, then they must be trustworthy. Finally, all his crew sworn in, Gareki was set to give his own. He knelt before the king and the prince, hands clasped together on his knees. He gave his oath of fealty to the crown, swore to defend and protect. He remained in that position as the king recounted all the new responsibilities the young captain and his crew would overtake as official sea merchants. Procuring and selling goods at the behest of the crown, delivering the cargo safely, upholding a certain level of professionalism while abroad and ensuring no political incidents arose to start international unrest. The only ones not taken by surprise with the next task were Gareki, Yogi, and the prince's two bodyguards as the king added the protection of Prince Yogi himself and the Royal Seal he wore around his finger. Even Princess Tsukumo had not been informed of this arrangemnt. As Gareki agreed to the duties handed down to him, the king took the young captain's hands in his own. "Now, rise, Captain Gareki," the king said, helping the raven to his feet. There were cheers and applause amid comments of confusion.
Princess Tsukumo and Princess Miumarie rushed to their brother's side, the younger princess carrying her brother's cat in her arms. "Yogi, is it true? You're going back out with Gareki?" she asked.
"Yeah, I am," Yogi admitted , "He asked me to cocaptain the Kuronomie. He intends to let Yotika have full command of the Kuroi Hitsuji. "
"Why didn't you tell us?" she asked.
Yogi nodded his head toward the councilman who had earlier been causing a ruckus. "We figgured certain people would be against it. So we kept it on a strictly need to know basis until time to announce it," Yogi explained .
"So; you, father, Gareki, Hirato, and Tsukitachi," the princess surmised.
"Yeah, it looks like no-one even told Tokitatsu," Yogi said with a half hearted chuckle.
"Why?" Princess Miumarie asked.
"Because I'm tired of the council deciding things for me, Miu," Yogi answered point blank as he knelt so that he was eye level with her. "My whole life, those guys have had every say on how I dress, what I eat, where I go, and whom I socialize with and when. I'm going away with Gareki for a while so I can get away from it for a while. "
Gareki placed a gentle hand on the little princess' shoulders and smiled at her. "I'll take care of hi m," he promised , "Your brother helped me find my own freedom, now, little princess, with your permission, I'd like to help him do the same."
Princess Miumarie fell silent for a moment, then smiled. "Alright," she relented, "I trust you," she said, "But you bring my brother back in one piece, or I'll tell Daddy to make you walk the plank," she jokingly stipulated.
"Miu!" Yogi and Tsukumo both laughed.
Gareki chuckled, kissed the little princess' hand and patted the to of her head, "That's a promise."
Yogi smiled and rose back to his feet, gently grabbing Gareki's wrist in his hand, "Come on, let's go get something to drink before a the booze is gone and get out of here. I'm dying to get out of this stuffy overcoat," he said.
Gareki and Yogi made their way to the refreshments table and indulged themselves in some of Rimhakka's best red wine. They both hobnobbed until they were sick of people, then quietly slipped out of the room back to Yogi's bed chambers. The prince gave a sigh of relief as he took off the overcoat and flung it across the room, landing it on his dresser. "Gods, it wouldn't be so bad if it were cold, but it's the middle of freaking summer," he sighed as he started unbuttoning his white button up.
"Yogi?" Gareki's voice pulled the prince's attention. Yogi turned to find Gareki had locked the door and was closing in on him. The prince opened his eyes wide as Gareki knelt before him.
"Gareki, what are you doing?" Yogi asked. He had unbuttoned three of the buttons on his shirt already and the young captain was enjoying what he was seeing. Gareki took the same stance he had taken during his oath, knelt with his hands clasped together.
"Yogi, even though it's just the two of us in here," Gareki said, "I want to point out I gave my oath to the crown out there. Not to you, or your father, but to the crown, and anyone who wears it. But that's not good enough for me. Anyone could usurp the crown. So here, just between the two of us, I want to swear my oath of loyalty to you." Gareki forced himself to look up, past all that princely fresh being revealed by the white half buttoned fabric, looking his Prince right into those beautifully brilliant purple eyes and locked contact with them. "I swear, upon my life, upon my faith, and upon my loyalty. I will be loyal and faithful, to YOU. I swear on my life to protect you."
Yogi sighed, "Gods, Gareki, it's an oath of loyalty." He clasped his hands around Gareki's, showing he accepted the oath, "Not a wedding vow," he said with a smile. Gareki looked away, trying to hide the blush he knew was trying to sweep his face.
"After what you've been through, I would never be so crass as to ask you that so soon."
Yogi smiled and pulled Gareki to his feet. "You know, Gareki that wasn't necessary, " the prince leaned in and pressed his lips to the young sailor's. He pulled away from the kiss and whispered in Gareki's ear, as he fumbled with the captain's top button, "I've always known I'm safe with you, my dear captain. "
Notes:
I did my best not to use the word Pimp.
For any of you who have been wondering through all 6 parts of this series and just haven't asked; Kuroi = Black Hitsuji = Sheep not only did I use this name because the ship has back sheep robots, but because Gareki and crew are a group of societal black sheep.