Shivered Timbers
by Kaline Reine
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the characters/settings. This is just a fanfiction story. I do own Shiori, she is my character. I also own a few other original characters in this story (not affiliated with One Piece), which will be introduced as they are needed.
WARNINGS: This story contains (or may contain) graphic adult content and language, explicit sex scenes, possible violence, gore, cursing, adult themes, etc. I do not censor my writing, but I do my best to warn people about the subject matter and potential subject matter. So if you don't like that kind of thing or can't handle it, then I suggest not reading this story. You have been warned. Also, I know this doesn't follow canon but it doesn't have to, that's why it's a fanfic. xD
Also... The beautiful cover image for this story is by my friend, EzariaUmiko on DeviantArt. All credit for the image goes to her. c:
Chapter 34: Gifts From Dragons
As soon as she'd run off like that, Ace got up and started to go after her. He sighed, clearly wishing that he could have fun instead of dealing with this right now. Even through his drunkenness, he hoped that she hadn't heard the comments he'd been making to his friends about her. He hadn't meant for her to hear that.
Before he could stumble toward the exit of the galley, a gentle but firm hand planted itself squarely in the middle of his bare chest. The Captain looked down, confused to see a solid black arm. He followed it, noting the white tattoo near her shoulder, before coming face to face with their newest recruit. She was almost as tall as he was, able to look him dead in the eye.
"Wha...?" He narrowed his eyes at her. "What'sa meaning of this?" He slurred. "If you thinks you're gonna stopsh me from going ta check on Shhiori-chan, you hads another think coming... Heh."
He knew he'd butchered that sentence, but he just didn't care.
Artemis only giggled, stepping between him and the doorway that led outside. She'd withdrawn her hand, using it in an attempt to stifle her laughter. "Let me... I want to talk to her anyways. It's probably better if you don't talk to her while you're... Like this."
The shark girl gestured to his entire body, watching the way it swayed back and forth as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Ace was in no state to have a conversation with someone he cared about right now. Especially when that someone had just run out of the room crying.
"You don't evennn know!" He threw his hands in the air, exasperated. "Can't even find her room..." He laughed, apparently finding something about all of this funny. It was more due to his own inebriated state than anything.
"Wow, you are fucking trashed! I think I'll manage..." She pointed to her tattoo, which he'd just been admiring a few minutes ago. "Echolocation, remember?"
Ace wasn't even going to try to pronounce that word right now. "Ahh, go ahead!" He batted at her with one hand, swatting at her unsuccessfully. "Who needs ya? Haha..."
"You men really are too funny when you drink. I'll be back later. Just leave it to me, okay?"
She left without waiting for a response. Some things were more important than getting even drunker. Artemis wasn't sure how she should handle this. She knew the one who really should be here was the Captain, since there was obviously some kind of unspoken thing between them, but it was probably better than he didn't come. They could always talk about it tomorrow or something.
Shiori's shoulders were shaking, and her face was planted into her pillow, relishing the softness in such a hard world. She hated the way that everyone had been excluding her lately. She really felt like an outsider here. It was completely different than when she'd been on Whitey Bay's crew. Right now, she wished that she could go back there. While she was lamenting leaving all of her old friends behind, she sensed that someone was near.
"Hey..." A soft voice came from the doorway. Artemis noticed the bars, now showing even more concern. "Do they... Oh honey, do they keep you locked away down here or something?"
Shiori didn't answer her. 'Would it make any difference?' She offered her a blank stare instead.
"Listen, I know you're hurting an awful lot right now, and... Fuck, I'm no good at this." She sat on one corner of the bed, careful not to get too close. She seemed to instinctively know that the other girl needed her space. "The thing is... I'm worried about you, and I was wondering if you wanted to talk about it?"
"What d-difference does it m-make?" She replied, looking up from her pillow for just a second. Her eyes were red and puffy. She was still crying.
It had really hurt being excluded from something that everyone else seemed to enjoy so much. She was used to always being on the outside looking in, but sometimes she got sick of it. And this time, it was especially pronounced because they even seemed more receptive of a newcomer than they had been toward her. It made her feel like she was seen as a nagging motherly type figure for everyone, more than an equal. It was like they viewed her as a drag to be around, just because she didn't drink like they did.
"Sometimes it's nice to have someone there for you. Misery loves company, and all."
Artemis placed a concerned hand on her shoulder, very carefully. She relaxed a little when Shiori didn't immediately jerk away. She was still mostly lost in her own thoughts.
"I guess so..." She paused for a moment, spacing out. "Let me guess. Did Ace send you here to check on me?"
"No, actually. He was going to come himself, but I stopped him. He's been drinking tonight and didn't seem to be in any kind of shape to be talking to someone he cares about."
"Tch. He doesn't 'care' about me," Shiori felt slightly guilty the second the words were spoken out loud, and even more after they had a moment to settle. "At least, no more than any other crew member."
She recalled what he'd been saying about wanting to sleep with some girl... If he cared about her, then he wouldn't be thinking about other people. Especially not doing those types of things with them! A knot was forming deep in the pit of her stomach just thinking about it.
At least she'd stopped crying, for the moment. She felt dejected... This wasn't how she was supposed to be. Showing such weakness was nothing like the strong new woman she tried so hard to display to others.
"That may not be so..." Artemis chuckled, seeming to know something the little albino didn't. "Even if it is, isn't that what being on a Pirate crew is all about? Having each other's backs and all?"
"S-sort of. But what would you know about it anyway?"
It was true. Shiori had been with them for a while already, but Artemis was new to being a Pirate. Although she had consented to become one of them, they both recalled that she had been more than a little hesitant about joining. At least at first...
"Hey, don't get bitchy with me!" The shark suddenly snapped at her. "I can out bitch you any time, okay?"
"I didn't m-mean it like that..." She was quick to clarify. "I only meant that maybe things are more complex than you realize. You are new here, after all."
"So I am," Artemis conceded. "I'm still getting to know everyone here. But I can already see there's something more between you two."
Shiori sat up, using the pillow to hide her face.
"I'm not wrong." She chuckled, continuing to speak in spite of the other girl's silence. "Wanna talk about it? Maybe I could help-"
"Nothing can help! Just leave me alone. I feel like enough of an idiot right now, thank you."
"Hey, I know no one likes to be left out. I may be cold-blooded, but I still have a heart. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for making you feel like you don't fit in."
Shiori sighed. "It's n-not your fault... They were the ones who made me feel this way, not you. Sorry for troubling you."
The two just sat in silence for a moment. It seemed that Artemis didn't know what to do to bring her out of this depressive funk she was in. She didn't know her well enough to know of anything that might cheer her up... Except one thing, but it was the very thing that had started this.
"You know, it's odd..."
"What?" Shiori tilted her head, moving the pillow down to her lap now and shuffling around to get a little more comfortable.
"I'm supposed to be the new navigator, but no one's even told me where the fuck we're going!" She laughed, tossing her head back and slapping one knee. "'Kay, so maybe I'm a bit tipsy too. Hehe... I'm just rambling now. Can I ask you something?"
"S-sure..."
"Do you really think I'll make a good navigator? Everyone else's opinions aside and junk?" Her vertical-finned tail swished back and forth, as she awaited the other girl's answer.
The Valkyrie took a moment to think about it. She didn't want to give her the wrong answer. There was no point in building up someone's confidence if they truly were not up to the task. And there was also no point in lying to make another person feel bad either.
"Hm. I don't know," She blinked, aware that she could feel how puffy and swollen her eyes still were. "How much do you know about navigating?"
"A little... Hoko-san has already been teaching me about it. And Mitch-san, but he's a total asshole. Now him I could definitely do without!" Though she said it mostly in jest, Shiori still found the truth of her words to be cutting.
"He's not so bad, once you get to know him..."
"We'll see." She became more serious again. "I also have my echolocation to help me out, so I'm sure I can get us out of here. The Coral Maze isn't so bad once you get used to it either. Though I suppose knowing the layout underwater gives me a bit of an edge there."
"M-maybe..." Shiori shrugged, then suddenly looked up at the shark girl, her gaze curious. "How are you able to do that anyway? Is it a Devil Fruit?"
"Hah! Hell no!" She took out a bottle that she'd 'borrowed' from the galley, taking a deep swig of it. The other girl couldn't see the label properly to tell what it was. "I'd have to be outright stupid to risk that! I'd have to give up swimming too. As if! I'd just fucking die!" Despite the very real threat she'd just mentioned, Artemis was laughing.
"Then how...? I mean, h-how does it work?"
"Oh..." Artemis' tone suddenly shifted into something bitter. Her eyes hardened, and her muscles tensed. It was abrupt and obvious, like she was preparing herself for an impending fight that had suddenly broken out. "It was given to me..."
"By who?"
There was a pause.
"Celestial Dragons."
Shiori stopped cold, unable to continue the conversation. Several long minutes passed, the silence between them not quite comfortable, but understandable all the same. Hesitantly, the shark girl held up the bottle of what she could now see was rum. She took it, pressing it to her lips, feeling the kiss of the cold against them as she drank... And she drank deep.
"Wow. I take it you know all about the motherfuckers, huh?" Artemis was quick to pick up on the rapid change in her demeanor.
"You might say that..." She had become deadly serious, her albinoid eyes narrowing as she helped herself to another drink. "Did they... Did they force you to accept it?"
"I was part of one of their sick experiments," She hung her head, whether in sadness or shame, Shiori could not tell. "And it wasn't willingly. I was lucky I was able to escape from those bastards. They implanted a chip in my arm. They wanted to use me as a weapon, I was nothing but a tool to them. Ever since, I've been able to use echolocation, like a damned dolphin... Cheeky bastards!"
Artemis took the bottle from her, taking another drink. She then passed it back to Shiori, who hesitated the second time.
"I've n-never had more than a few sips really... Except maybe once or twice."
"Ah, I see your problem now. You need to loosen up more!" She shoved the alcohol to her insistently, sticking the bottle to her modest bosom so she couldn't refuse... Not without spilling it all over herself. "Drink, bitch!"
Shiori didn't feel like an argument right now. She was in no mood. Deciding to take the newcomer's advice, she tilted up the bottle, taking a deep swig before returning it to her. It felt like she didn't have much of a choice in the matter, currently.
But Artemis refused to take it back. "Keep going." She giggled. "I'm already fucking wasted!"
"Alright, if you say so... But just you know, alcohol is bad..." She took another very hesitant and small drink from the bottle they were apparently now sharing.
"Yeah? Who says?" Her pink hair shimmied to one side, nearly dragging the floor, when she tilted her head sideways in confusion.
"I mean, th-that's what I was always taught."
"'Taught...' What a fucking crock! I don't get why people feel the need to brainwash others with their nonsense. Right and wrong, things like morals... That's something each person should be free to sort out for themselves. Just because it's not for everyone doesn't mean it's wrong for everyone. Ya feel me?"
Shiori didn't answer, just taking in her words for a moment. She didn't speak, just reflecting on what she'd said. The poisonous rum touched her lips again, and she tipped the bottom of the bottle up, taking in as much as she could and letting it pour down her throat. Some of it dripped onto her shirt but she didn't care.
"I guess that's what being a Pirate is all about... Freedom."
It was a bit of a surprise when the shark girl showed up with a petite albino tucked under one arm later that night. The two were leaning on each other for support, obviously hammered. It was a surprise to see Shiori actually get drunk, and it even seemed to draw Ace's attention. But she'd chosen to ignore him for the rest of the evening, instead drinking with the rest of the crew. They were laughing and singing and carrying on drunkenly. She stayed close to Artemis until it was time for them to go to sleep.
Well... They'd certainly meant to go to sleep... It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning, when the sun's rays flooded into the galley from the edge of the horizon, that the girls finally realized they had neglected to go to bed at all. That's not to say they hadn't fallen asleep though.
Peeling her face from the hard wooden surface of one of the tables, Shiori felt her head throb something fierce. She felt somewhat queasy, as if the contents of her stomach might let themselves loose at any moment. Her vision was swimming, in spite of the fact that she herself could not. She wanted to slap herself.
"Ugh..." She groaned, blinking as her face scrunched up in pain. "Why did I do that? Ow oww owww..."
"Hey little lady, you're not slurring your words anymore! Not stuttering yet either. Haha!" Mitch rose and issued her a hearty pat on the back, to which she grimaced.
"Whyyyy..."
Haji was awake now too. He'd fallen asleep on one of the tables and he was scrambling around frantically, collecting his throwing daggers from where they'd had a little tournament with them last night. Quite a few various crew members were littered throughout the room, but many were already up. Even after a long night of drinking and partying, they'd gone right back to work the next day. Ace was one of them, having already gotten to work long ago. That was impressive, especially to Shiori, who was still feeling the ill after-effects of their drunken debauchery.
"Time to get to work!" Mitch chimed, not even seeming the least bit phased by any of it. "Rise and shine, sunshine!" He opened another porthole, making it even brighter, if that were even possible...
"Owwwie, nooo...!" Shiori put her head back down, folding her arms around her face in a desperate attempt to block out all of the light. "It hurts..."
"She has a hangover," Artemis, who was now awake after having curled up on a bench last night, snapped at their first mate. "Go easy on her, jerk face! She isn't used to drinking that much. I still remember my first hangover, aww!"
At the sound of all the commotion, the Captain, who had just happened to be walking by, stepped into the room. Everyone stopped what they'd been doing.
"What's going on in here?" His thick left eyebrow arched much higher than the right one. His boots clunked across the floor, and Shiori could feel her temples pounding in time with every footstep.
"Shiori-chan has a hangover, that's all." Artemis explained. "And Mitch-san was being an asshole about it."
"That so? Mitch-san, get to work! And the rest of you, wake up!" He barked orders at his men. "There are things that need to be done around the ship. As for you..." Ace's jet black eyes narrowed at the newcomer. He didn't know whether he could get away with ordering her around yet or not, so he decided to play it safe. "If you wouldn't mind, please go with him to adjust the coordinates of the ship. We can't really go anywhere without your help."
"Of course, I'm on it." The shark girl bowed to him respectfully, leaving along with Mitch and the others, although she glared daggers at the man the moment they were outside and away from the Captain.
That would sort itself out. His first priority was making sure that the lightweight among them would be alright. It wasn't his first time handling something like this.
"Let's get you to the medical ward, come on..." Ace hauled her up, but she resisted. "You look like hell." He commented when he saw her face.
Shiori looked like she wanted to curl up into a ball and just die, right then... But she knew he was only poking fun at her.
"Yeah? So do you!" She quipped, not missing a beat. The moment the sun hit her retinas, she let out an agony-filled groan, putting her head back down. She fought off another roll of her stomach, determined not to throw up. "Why aren't any of you sick?"
That wasn't the only reason she was hiding her face though, and he knew it as well. She'd collapsed back onto the table, face-first, unwilling to move. Though her voice was muffled, he could still make out what she'd said. He knew she wasn't really wishing sickness onto all of them. It was a fairly normal reaction...
"What's a lot for you is just a moderate amount for us. Basically, it's because you're a lightweight and aren't used to drinking that much. The more you do it, the better you'll feel though. It won't be so bad next time. And trust me, I know. I've had a hell of a time with some hangovers in my day."
"I-if you say so..." She really didn't want to believe him right now. "Ahhh ha ha, it hurts so much!" The albino girl wailed, almost sobbing in pain as another round of waves rocked the vessel and caused her migraine to worsen. At least they were finally moving again.
Ace took her hand, prying it away from her face. She thought he was going to try to force her to her feet, but he didn't. He let her lie there miserably, placing an empty glass into her hand.
"Hold on." Moments later, he returned with a pitcher of ale. "Drink this."
"Nooo..." She moaned, closing her eyes tight and refusing to take the glass. She pushed it away, grimacing as it scraped across the table abrasively.
"It'll help." He proceeded to pour her a glass of it anyway. "The one surefire cure for a hangover... Is to drink more."
"I d-don't see how that helps. I should probably drink water or something, but... My stomach, ugh..."
"It takes the edge off. I promise."
Not seeing any other way out of it, the shy girl hesitantly put the glass to her mouth and took a few gulps. Surprisingly, she kept it down. It tasted considerably better than the hard liquor she'd imbibed last night. It was less harsh, anyway.
"There, see? Not so bad, right?"
"Screw you..." She chuckled.
Ace didn't know how to take that, so he chose to keep his mouth shut. ...For now. He knew she was just suffering the after-effects of the previous night. And it was partially his fault. He liked that she was starting to be a little more playful with him lately. It was more like the old days.
"You should really try to get some rest," He told her. "But first, we need to get you to the medical ward. I know Walter-kun has some medicine that can really help."
He tried to help her to her feet, but she fell against him. Shiori wanted to stay there and hide her face, but she knew that wouldn't really help her feel any better. That was no way to solve your problems... Staying in the same place would only make things worse, or keep them the same, at best.
"A-alright..." She fought to hide the blush that was inching across her features.
Ace did his best to help her up. It wasn't an immediate worry, but he really did want to make sure that it wasn't alcohol poisoning or something. He'd never forgive himself if she got truly sick and he did nothing to help her. He told himself that he would do this for any member of his crew, but deep down he knew he was most likely lying to himself. Still, that didn't stop him. Or the butterflies that rushed through his core when she leaned against him the way she did. He wasn't ready to own up to that just yet.
"Here," He took off his treasured hat and placed it on her head. The strings dangled freely, tickling the sides of her face, and the amulet fell heavy against her chest. "This should help with the sun."
"So that's why you wear it..." She managed to giggle, but instantly regretted it. "Ouch."
"Nah... Sure does help though." Ace chuckled. "We're almost there."
At least it wasn't a long way to Walter's office. Shiori barely noticed the rest of the crew as they walked past. Although she was trying to keep her head down and the sun out of her eyes, she vaguely made note of the way Artemis and Mitch were arguing with each other. It definitely wasn't the almost playful banter that he'd shared with Nischela when she'd been on board. No, this was true dislike.
When they got there, they were met with an empty room. There was no sign of the friendly doctor. They waited for a minute, and by the time Shiori was situated in one of the chairs in the makeshift waiting room, he had returned.
"Oh hey you two! I was just getting a cup of coffee," Walter smiled pleasantly. "But I see that I should have gotten two... Or maybe three?"
"Now is no time for j-jokes..." Shiori complained, with another groan. "I'm in a lot of pain."
"After last night, I'm not surprised. I was there, you know. I had a feeling this would happen. Here, take these."
He gave her two strangely colored capsules. They were purple with orange swirls. She took them from him, almost hesitantly. She handed Ace's hat back to him, feeling like she probably looked really silly in it.
"What are they?"
"I made them myself. They're the herbal equivalent of a painkiller. There shouldn't be any side effects, unless you were allergic, which is doubtful."
Ace grabbed a little paper cup and filled it with fresh water. Although she didn't answer, she downed the pills with it almost immediately. She wasn't sure what was in the strange capsules, but she trusted Walter, and knew he had his patients' best interests at heart. She'd seen him cure one of Ace's hangovers before too. That was shortly after she'd arrived on The Royal.
"It may take them a minute to kick in. In the meantime, I recommend sipping on that ale. It should help you more than coffee would."
"Told you so..." Ace muttered, crossing his arms indignantly.
"Are you sure?" She looked at both men like they were crazy. "That's what Ace-kun said, but... I'm just not sure it would help. This is what caused the problem in the f-first place..."
"I know it sounds crazy, but more alcohol really is the best cure for a hangover. Definitely takes the edge off."
Something about the way he said it with such finality made her want to believe him... Even though it went against her every instinct, Shiori nursed the glass of ale until there was nothing left. Ace had taken to pacing and then sitting on the lounge chair across the room, waiting impatiently for her to feel better. Walter went back to his paperwork and began rifling through his notes. He was probably researching other cures... Whether for herself or for some of his other patients, she wasn't entirely sure.
"Any better yet?" The Captain sighed, after a while.
"N-not really... I feel kind of faint. And... And lightheaded!" She declared, clearly not quite in her right state of mind anymore. "But it did seem to settle my stomach a little?"
"You should probably lie down..." Walter suggested, sending a kind smile Ace's way. "You'll take care of her, won't you?"
"Yeah..." He took her by one arm, pulling her to her feet. "Come on, he's right."
"Okies!" She hiccupped. "We should get... more?"
"Of what?"
She pointed to the empty glass in her other hand, handing limply in his grasp.
"So now you want to drink? Unbelievable..." Ace shook his head. "Sure, but you have to walk for a bit first. Let's go."
"A little walkies never hurt anyone! Hehe!" The albino girl hiccupped again, grinning stupidly. She was slurring her words just a bit too.
He led her outside. They saw that it was raining lightly. It didn't look like the storm was going to be a very bad one. It was only a light drizzle. The freezing droplets hit her skin, making their way down her face, and causing her to become even more alert to just how cold it was becoming. She liked that part. It gave her comfort... It felt more like home.
Shiori headed toward the brig to lie down, but Ace steered her away from it. They were headed in the direction of his cabin. It was a path she knew well, having been the first place on board The Royal that she'd memorized.
"My room is probably better for you in your condition," He explained, hastily. "There are no windows, so it's much darker. I made it that way on purpose, because I'm chronically afflicted by your exact problem, you see."
She had to repress a giggle at the thought of it. "At least I'm not alone."
"You'll never be alone. Not while I'm around." His tone had suddenly turned serious.
She had no idea what to say to that, so she just remained silent. Shiori understood that it wasn't an emergency of any sort, so why he'd been so kind to her, she didn't quite know. It was an ordeal she wasn't really used to, being hungover. This was all new to her. He was probably just trying to be there for her and let her know it would be over soon. In any case, she was grateful for his kindness. Her head pounded more with every step they took until they reached the safety of his cabin.
Inside, it was dark, and familiar... It felt comfortable. The realization dawned on her that she might even feel more at ease here than in her own room. Not that it was much to look at either. He seemed to have a lot of junk lying around, so it was fairly cluttered.
Shiori stumbled over to the bed, falling onto it and letting herself sink into the softness. It was nice, but she wasn't able to get too comfortable. Her migraine was still raging, and she still felt pretty sick. The room was swimming, but at least she was safe. She hoped no one got the wrong idea about her staying in his room like this. It wasn't like they would have much privacy anyway. The Captain's quarters were usually buzzing with activity, serving as a central hub for all of the Spades from time to time. Everyone knew where to find him, so they pestered him a lot.
Right now, Ace was giving her a strange look, as he tucked her into bed. He knew she needed her rest, but something else was nagging at him. It had been on his mind ever since they'd left the previous port. He got very close to her face, and seemed to lose his nerve then, pulling away after a moment. There was an awkward silence.
"Are we ever going to talk about it?" He watched her carefully for a reaction.
"About what?"
So... Denial it was, then.
"Nothing, it's fine. So..." There was a brief pause, before he got up. "I'll get you something to eat, maybe it'll help."
"I'm not sure if I should eat a-anything right now, I feel kind of sick..."
"I'll have Rex make you something with lots of bread, that should help."
"If you think that would be best." She conceded, having no will to fight left in her.
Before he left, Ace patted the top of her head affectionately. Smiling uselessly, she let him do what he wanted. It made her feel odd, like a small child or something, but she relaxed a little...
"You know... You look pretty good in my bed." He winked, without even meaning to.
She pulled the covers up around herself with a squeak, certain that she was blushing from head to toe. He couldn't tell for sure because she'd covered the lower half of her face. She was flustered, at least.
"That's what I thought." Ace smiled, and turned to leave, thoroughly pleased with himself.
'Where are you?' A faint voice resounded from the back of her mind. 'Why did you leave me behind? Senpai...?'
It happened just as she was waking up. That strange voice again... Shiori was certain she'd heard it somewhere before, but it was so hard to place it.
"Senpai? Huh... Sometimes I wonder if I'm going crazy..." She whispered, in the dark.
It was late, and... This place was much too dark and the room felt too large to be the brig. Everything was laid out differently too. She just realized that she was no longer in her room. And she wasn't alone.
'That's right,' She thought to herself. 'I'm in Ace's bedroom... Oh gosh!' It felt weird to even think that. Something fluttered within her chest at the thought of it. 'What is this strange feeling?'
She vaguely recalled him bringing her some garlic bread earlier, before she'd fallen asleep. It had been fresh and delicious, and it was just what she needed to settle the queasiness that had made itself known. Rex always seemed to know just what to make for every situation. No wonder everyone loved his cooking so much.
Now that she was feeling a bit better, she felt incredibly lazy for having slept most of the day. It wasn't like her to shirk her duties on board the ship. She hoped the others had handled things okay while she was down for the count. As it was, she could still feel the need for more sleep tugging desperately at the corners of her eyes, her lids becoming heavy once again. As hard as it was to believe, she was still tired.
A few moments later, there was a scratching sound. She couldn't tell where it was coming from. Something shuffled nearby, and she realized that she wasn't alone in the bed. Ace was been lying down too, right next to her. She wasn't sure how to feel about that, but he got up to open the door. Apparently he'd heard the strange sounds too.
"Can I help you?" He deadpanned, looking down to see a very fluffy familiar face.
Vanora looked up at him cheekily. "Mew..."
"Come in..." He sighed, shaking his head and chuckling at her antics. Then he whispered. "But be quiet. Your... uhh... Mommy is sleeping right now." It sounded strange to hear him talk like that.
She tilted her head sideways, but allowed him to pick her up. He closed the door, and Shiori heard it click shut. The Captain placed the little kitten, who had been growing and wasn't quite so tiny anymore, onto his bed. She cuddled up to Shiori, rubbing her tail under her chin.
"Mreow..." The small creature purred, her striped tail swishing to and fro. "Nyah!"
'Found you...'
She pawed at the sleepy girl's face, and her paw pads landed right on the center of Shiori's nose. Something dawned on her just then, and the Valkyrie sat straight up in sudden alarm. It was like a lightning bolt had just hit her.
'That voice...' Red eyes widened, and even in the darkness her shock was palpable. 'Could it be?' She stared down at the kitten who had climbed onto her lap and was now grooming herself contentedly.
But Ace had settled back down next to her again, seemingly unaware of what was happening. No one else could hear her thoughts. They wouldn't have a single clue.
"It's alright, it's just Vanora-chan... She must have missed you." His voice held a strange comfort within it.
"Oh..." Shiori replied carefully, and pulled a poker face, in an effort to feign being calm. "It's only her. What are you doing?"
"Sleeping. It's late." He stated, matter-of-factly.
She lied back down, her platinum locks splaying out across the fluffy pillow under her head... She really didn't mind that he was so close to her. They weren't touching, but almost. His bed wasn't huge or anything, so Ace had to be deliberately avoiding crowding her space.
Concentrating her thoughts, she decided to test a new theory. 'Can... Can you hear me?'
'Yes...' Came the answer. 'Of course.'
It could have been just her imagination, but she felt the young cat shift and move up to her chest as she lied down. That was her favorite spot to sleep, after all.
'Vanora-chan?!'
'The one and only!' The cat began to purr, nuzzling under her chin. 'I thought you might never come back, so I came to look for you when you called out to me.'
'I didn't though, I-' Shiori struggled to hide her shock, due to the close proximity of the man she was somehow apparently sharing a sleeping space with for the night. 'How can you talk?!'
'I can't talk, silly... We're communicating like this telepathically. In our minds.'
'So I'm psychic?'
'Hm... Not quite. It's due to the bond we share. That's why we can talk like this.'
'Wow...'
She lied there, in the dark, her mind being silently blown. It took her a minute. It was a lot to take in.
'It's about time you figured it out, too! You're such a baka!' A single paw batted at her again, little claws tangling through her shimmery hair.
'It feels strange being insulted by my own cat, you know.' Shiori barely managed to hold back her laughter.
'I bet,' Vanora got really close to her face, then licked her cheek. Her rough tongue rasped across Shiori's delicate skin. 'I've missed you... That weird fish thing was in your room, you know.'
'Fish thing? You mean Artemis?'
'I think that is what you call her, yes.'
'Did she do anything bad?' She was only just beginning to realize the potential this had. No one knew they could talk like this. It made her want to ask Vanora all kinds of things. She patted the kitten on her head, then paused for a moment to pet her gently. 'Like... Did she go through my things?'
'No. Just went to sleep. I thought you abandoned me!'
'That's good at least... Ah, well... I'd never do that, you mean the world to me.' She blinked. It was so hard to keep her thoughts concentrated, and it certainly wasn't helping her pounding head. 'Why didn't you tell me it was you? All this time...'
'I thought you knew. Silly girl.'
'Oh...'
'Why are you in here and not your room?' The kitty tilted her head sideways, but finally settled in to curl up on her chest. That was where she usually slept.
'Never thought I'd be judged by my own cat either...' She mused, intending for it to be to herself. 'Oops! Can't believe I just said that. Can she hear me?'
'I can hear all of your thoughts, yes. And I do mean all of them!'
'Wow. Guess nowhere is really safe.' Shiori sighed. 'I have always wanted to tell you how much I love you though.'
'And you as well.'
She huffed. 'You're pretty cold for a cat that's supposed to be adorable, you know!'
'Does it upset you?'
She thought about it for a moment. '...No.'
'Are you ill? You should get some rest.' Vanora seemed to instinctively sense that something was off.
'It was just a hangover. From drinking too much last night. I really didn't mean to sleep all day though. I-'
Something jostled her out of their inner monologue. There was movement to her left. Ace had reached over and was petting Vanora, lightly stroking her fur.
'Is he bothering you?' Shiori directed her thoughts toward her beloved pet.
'Not really. He's surprisingly gentle.'
'Hm. I guess he is...'
He stopped then. "You seem tense. Are you feeling any better?"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine..." Shiori realized that her voice was shaky. 'Shit...'
'He cares for you a lot, you know. I've seen it.'
'Shut up!' She responded, nowhere near ready to deal with all of that. 'What's with everyone saying that lately?'
"You sure?"
He seemed to sense her distraction, so she ceased the conversation with Vanora, for now.
"Mm-hm..." She nodded, although he couldn't really see. "I just didn't mean to sleep all day. And to take over your bed. Sorry about this."
"It's alright. Artemis-san said she was going to sleep in your room, since she isn't getting on that well with the rest of the crew. Figures... And since you were in pain, I thought I should just let you sleep. We all need a day off now and then. Besides, it's not like I mind."
'Ooh la la!' Came the kitten's response.
'I said be quiet!' Shiori cast a silent glare down at her. 'I had no idea cats could understand us to this extent.'
She seemed to be almost smiling, in a wistful kind of way. 'Oh yes. Didn't you know? Cats are very wise. We're practically ground-bound owls.'
'How do you even know what an owl is?'
No response. Shiori couldn't resist a smirk. That had shut her up.
"It's okay," Ace chuckled nervously. "We should get some rest. Do you mind if I... get comfortable?"
"It's your bed," She shrugged, not really thinking things through. "Do what you want."
"If I did what I really wanted..." He muttered quietly, and then stopped.
"Huh? I didn't hear you. What?"
"Nothing. Goodnight, Shiori-chan."
She smiled warmly, as he rolled over to face her. Her blush deepened when he put an arm around her, but she didn't protest. "'Night, Ace-kun."
The only sound that could be heard was Vanora purring loudly, stretched out across her chest...
A/N: Yeah, he's teasing her big time... I have no regrets! xD Looks like that's it for this chapter! I'm pretty happy with how things are going along. I hope the ending was cute, at least. I like ending things on a cute note sometimes, so I couldn't resist. Soon they'll reach their destination, but I'm not giving anymore spoilers other than that. I hope you found this chapter to be an enjoyable read. I have to say, I've really had fun working on this story. I know it's not perfect, but no story ever really is. And I began writing this mostly for myself, so... As long as it still makes me happy, I will keep going. c;
-Kaline