Muzuki I am in love with you lol. Your comments have always given me life, so I feel like I'm writing this partially for you. Thank you for reading my stories with such care.

Here's to this chapter and to all ya'll still going!

~|_X_|~

"He was missing half his body."

Tsugaru was casted in near darkness. Hands folded in front of him, black cape long fallen off his shoulders, and his face was scrunched in sadness that not even dim lantern light hid. His long hair, usually neat, was fallen in stray strands across his shoulders, which still trembled.

"No legs?" Asked Father, standing far away from the sons facing a window overlooking a deep scarlet sea.

"...Bones..."

Shizuo only a young teen, watched the exchange. He noticed sharply how their Father did not look at them since entering the office.

"She's going to kill us all..."

"Who?" Tsugaru asked before Shizuo could.

"The one who I paid for our abilities." The deep voice, one that could fill a crew with wonder, was monotone and perhaps a little regretful. "My sons, I'm afraid I will have to split you all from here."

"W-What?" Shizuo stammered, feeling a vein pop in his head. He could not understand, "What do you mean?"

"Father-" Tsugaru started at once.

"Dad-" Kasuka opened his mouth to speak.

"Enough!" Golden Eye turned, his gaze never meeting theirs. Eyes so dead and absolute in decision. "Tsuguru you are banished from this ship immediately, I want you gone. Shizuo... I will give you at least the courtesy of a dock since you are young. Kasuka..." He did dare to look at his youngest. His heart did waver, "I will drop you on mainland-"

"What the fuck?" Shizuo roared, standing, "Dad what is going on here?"

"He sold us to a witch that's what!" Tsugaru shouted, his voice echoed like a cannon boom.

"A witch?" Kasuka looked between his older brothers who were both glaring heavily to their now silent and still captain. "Dad... why?"

Kichirou Heiwajima looked down to Kasuka with no gentle eye, and said in a cold truth: "Because I wanted power."

"What can we do?"

"Hide. She wants your flesh, the strength that resides within it. Be smart."

"And you?"

"I sail the ocean West."

Tsugaru cursed, "running away?"

"I never run."

"Leaving your sons to be killed by a sea witch seems-"

Kichirou pulled a pistol from his pocket, pointing it clearly at Tsugaru who was now silent. Tears had stained Tsugaru's cheeks, but now his eyes shined with betrayal.

"Off. My. Ship."

"Tsukashima's death-"

Many things happened at once. Golden Eye fired the pistol, Tsugaru charged at him, Shizuo grabbed Kasuka and out the door they all fought. Kichirou winning out, shoving Tsugaru down steps to the deck and barking an order to toss him in a dingy, leaving him at sea.

Tsugaru was shouting, "YOUR FAULT!" as twenty men dragged him away. His hair was wild in sunlight, the sea was red with blood.

"Da-"

Kasuka's call was ignored, Kichirou walking down in false calmness. Shizuo followed him close, eyeing the pistol that was still in his father's hand. When all was said, words worn and over with, Golden Eye stared Tsugaru directly in the eye. His now eldest son was standing in a boat with rations only for a short week.

"It is for your own good." Hissed the father, "I was cursed to return the magic, I never had the intention. I never knew it spread through blood and she wants it back."

"So we should stick toge-"

"You will die... She must not know I have any more sons." Kichirou grabbed the back of Tsugaru's head, pressing their foreheads together for a brief moment. It would have been more tender if the death sentence he was handing wasn't so final. "I either lose you now, or watch you be lost."

Tsugaru spat in his face, "you bastard." Then sat on his boat, saying nothing more.

Shizuo watched Tsugaru go, becoming a dot on the horizon after what felt was too short an hour. The figure of his brother sobbing into his palms would paint itself inside eyelids. And in truth, that was the last he had seen Tsugaru.

Later, as Shizuo was packing a bag of his own things Kichirou came and sat him down to say.

"She had magic that I borrowed in exchange for feeding her pet, and I never intended to return it. That outcome birthed your gifts in strength, gave me the red ocean we sail on. But time has passed, she wants it back, and will lure you in every way she can."

"Then I'll go where she can't."

"You'll die off sea..." He said softly, "Tsugaru knows this, Tsukashima had known it. Shizuo, the gift will kill you if you spend three full suns off sea. So you must never stop sailing... It is part of her curse."

"Dad... Is there anything else you aren't telling me?"

"Watch out for any demons she sends to lure you to her. They will come in any size, mask and trick..."

"How does this all end?" Shizuo frowned, he was angry, scared, wondering how things could turn to be so.

"When I die, or when all my sons are dead... it ends when she has all her magic back."

~|_X_|~

Shizuo opened his eyes, his wandering into his memories was never a good thing. Now he laid, breathing slowly as he watched the ceiling of his room. A frown upon his face, and wrinkles between his brows. His Father, the bastard, would know the truth. Or, he will beat it out of him.

Izaya stirred next to him, a smile formed on Shizuo's face, and soon they were chest to chest. He could feel his love's heart beat slowly quicken, and soon was looking into those stunning ruby eyes that swam with a fleeting dream.

"Goodmorning."

Izaya pouted, Shizuo felt his stomach stir because it was so damn cute. Then his mind screamed in excitement, adoring how Izaya reburied himself into his neck, hugging Shizuo closer as if wanting to become one.

Shizuo sighed, "Flea, we ought to be getting up."

"We anchor?"

"Last night," the captain replied petting Izaya's soft hair, admiring over again just how perfect he was. "One thing my Father as least did was tell me if we ever truly needed h-"

BOOM.

They both shot up, Shizuo cursed. His heart was pounding. Both were out of bed, pulling on shirts and boots, Shizuo grabbed his sword and looked back at Izaya who was finishing tying his laces. Another cannon fired, their eyes met and then the world began to tilt.

"OUTSIDE!"

"TOPSIDE!"

"ROPES!"

"FUCK!"

"HOLD ON!"

Voices were heard from all over, below decks things crashed around, and men screamed diving out of incoming balls and powder.

Shizuo held onto Izaya, forcing open the door at the same time and onto the main deck they slipped.

"LIFE ROPES!" Shizuo roared, but his men were already on it. Those already on deck helping those below up and out, tying them fast as they could even as the ship began to rock in the other direction this time at a deeper, deadly angle.

Simon pushed Tamari out from below, and soon Kira came panting and covered with flour.

"Captain!" Simon bellowed deeply, Shizuo was however already holding Izaya and the railing above the door, but with wide eyed horror they could only watch as Kira and Tamari slipped. The girls screamed, it was like a horrible slide all the way to the far railings which stopped them from entering the black ocean waters. Shizuo winced hearing such hard thuds.

"Captain!?" Kadota urged, he was hugging the wheel and Tom at the same time, and every time the ship switched from one rock to another he was only able to regrip and hang on again.

"Shizu-" Izaya spoke, then saw Elias climbing out followed by Mikado and Kida. The three fell fortunately to tied up men, many hands reaching and grabbing, but the ship lurched again, swaying back to the otherside. It was like a sick game, daunting but never tipping. Taunting, but never going too far... yet.

Shizuo had to gather his mind, but Izaya was the only thing he could think of. As his men shouted, tied, cursed, and were hurt, he held Izaya and for once felt himself falter. If he let go, Izaya would surely fall. If he tried to help, Izaya would surely fall. He could only bark orders, but he knew he was the only one strong enough to move, but what about Izaya?

Then it happened.

Dark, evil eyes of Jio.

The man was above deck, jaw bloody, bruised and wrapped. He had no life line, looking at Shizuo with flaming hatred. Gleeful. As the ship lurched again, Jio began to open his jaw even as blood and pain came, he spread his arms wide and shouted: "Captain! Help!" Then in slow motion slipped passed Shizuo, screaming, falling the entire length of the ship, vanishing forever below the black deadly waters.

"Jio!" Elias screamed, pulling against his safety rope. Other men stared and mouths dry as their captain did nothing to help.

Izaya felt the arm around him tighten, but he could see the faces of everyone who looked at them. Everyone who was in danger, was now angry. Their eyes burned them both, the hairs on his neck began to stand as cold fear threatened to grip and take hold.

"Shizuo," Izaya croaked, "tie my hands to the railing. Right. Now."

Shizuo looked at him confused, but Izaya was removing the fine red ribbon from his neck. He grabbed the railing and nodded, Shizuo understood now. He tied Izaya tightly, not wanting to hurt him but not wanting to lose him.

Then at last, the captain let go, found his footing and barked his order: "CUT THE SAIL ROPES."

As the ship teetered again, the men grabbed for the sails, and began to cut and slice before dangling helplessly for several seconds. This repeated over and over, as Shizuo secured life lines to the railings, methodically dodging his crew, when at last there was nothing attaching the masts to the ship.

"HOLD ON!"

His men did. To each other, to their ropes, to the ship herself.

Shizuo tied himself to the center, and ordered loudly, "Pull me back in one minute."

Then he ripped up the smaller mast, took a few deep breaths, just as the ship began to change tilt he ran to where the highest part would be and waited for the right moment to jump. Wielding the mast like a javelin into the dark shadow under the water.

At once the ship corrected itself, but the men did not cheer. They were silent, breaths drawn and waiting. From the throng a single even voice counted, then was slowly joined by many others, "Sixty, Fiftynine, fiftyeight, fiftyseven-"

~|_X_|~

Under the water, Shizuo struggled in pure blood. His aim had been true. The leviathan was sinking ever slowly to the depths oozing crimson. But now he was struggling against something he could not see, it scratched his face with near human hands, strangled his neck and at last bit him hard. Ripping a chunk from his flesh.

He could hear its voice, high pitched and livid.

"Get away from Him!" It had been repeating louder, screechier, and desperate. "My gems! My eyes! MINE! You deal with Mother. I deal with Him."

Shizuo could only guess what it meant, and lashed out blindly to kill meeting only thick water. The rope around his waist began to tug, the creature screamed in glee.

"MY GEMS!" then suddenly it was gone.

He broke surface, sucking in air with sudden desperation, "IZAYA!" His eyes searched The Dollar's deck, his men were pulling him back, a ladder was lowered, but even from here he could see a brawl. Datobi was being held by Simon as Kadota attacked him, Tom was barking orders to men who were scrambling to remove their ropes, some were shouting down at Shizuo.

But he knew.

Shizuo felt his world shattering as he knew.

On deck he approached Datobi who was tied, beaten bloody already, and showed no remorse.

In a voice laced with death he growled, "You-"

But Datobi sneered, "It left you alone didn't it, Captain?"

All Shizuo did was blink and Datobi was a blood smear under his fist. The crew was in a circle watching, careful not to speak nor whisper. They had not seen Shizuo this deadly before, though they had always known he was capable. Even for his nature, they knew this was too much. His hands were coated in fresh crimson, the smell of blood lingered, his eyes were burning with tears, and he felt his chest heaving. He was on his knees, Shizuo did not know when this happened, but his hands were trembling and Datobi was dead.

"L-Look for him." Was all Shizuo said, dropping everything, becoming unmoving. A statue of loss.

Slowly, Tom walked to his side as everyone dared to turn, dared to go on, and began to move. Some got into dinghies, some began to clean things up and sort below decks out, but nothing got to Shizuo who remained kneeling by the corpse of the man who tossed Izaya out. The man who may as well have killed the captain's heart.

"Shizuo..." Tom tried softly, "we will find him. He's tough."

Shizuo did not respond. Tears streaked his cheeks, as did the water drops from his hair. The day was still clear, hot, and like any other still starting. Just thirty minutes ago he had been in bed with Izaya.

Tom left, he had tried everything to rouse Shizuo up but the brute did not move. Stewing in the blood, burning in the sun. Shortly after Tom had gone, Shinra knelt in front of Shizuo.

"Celty is gone."

~|_X_|~

Izaya hit ocean water, opposite of where Shizuo had dove in to kill the creature. His wrists burned from the fight with Datobi, his face hurt, and under the water he could hear a female voice screeching: "MINE! HE'S MINE!"

Sharp nails suddenly gripped his chin, turning his head sharply and through the murk he saw a beautiful face. She seemed so close to a siren, but not with sharp teeth and missing an eye while the other was sickly red.

"Izaya~ I waited long. Long to be repaid. Long to be repaid. Long-"

He tried to punch her, but ended up flipping around in the water, struggling as air left his mouth when her nails drew blood.

"The lady promised me, never repaid."

His lungs burned, then a shadow not of any creature he knew, wrapped around his face.

~|_X_|~

More background~ I have plans now, I'm excited to see how this will go and if you all enjoy it. Also, fuck Jio.