Disclaimer: *still fleeing down the hall* Can't catch me!

*Sparrow catches up and grabs her, but she twists in his grip and both go tumbling to the floor, quite to their surprise, rather tangled up in each other's limbs*

Hmm…maybe I don't mind being caught…

Authors Note: Arr, fun abounds here mateys! Finally we get to see the mind behind the fluff…and prove if there is one. *grins* But of course there is…amazing how this is my longest chapter yet…hope ye all enjoy it. And, of course, I must credit my dear friend Nini with the secondary title…she did suggest it to me…*grins* Thank ye! More than twice the number of reviews for number of chapters! Yeah! Now if only we could triple or even quadruple it…*evil grin* But… for me reviewers…(at the end now.)

Four-Sided Eyes

(a.k.a. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the fangirl)

Chapter 11: A Most Unpleasant Experience

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(Janette's POV…)

Sitting still gets tiring quite quickly. As does pacing. But, at least when you pace you get the luxury of moving. Eternity seemed to come and go before the silence was put to a painful end. Someone was knocking on my door.

"Hello?" the boy asked. It sounded like one of the younger boys learning how to be sailors. "Mademoiselle Graton?"

I hesitated for a moment, and then put on my best voice. "Who is it? What is going on?"

"Just one of the sailors, Mademoiselle," the lad seemed quite cheery from coming from a battle. We must have won with ease. It sure took them long enough to inform me of the victory. "All is well now, please come out."

"I…" my voice cracked, now that was definitely not leaving a good impression. Sadly, there's nothing I can do but continue. "I wish to speak to the captain. Go get him."

"I am very sorry Mademoiselle Graton, but the captain is indisposed. He actually requested that you meet him at the helm."

Irritating sailor…I thought I'd set them straight on how to speak to me. I suppose I'll have to tell them again.

"The what?" I paused, giving the boy a chance to realize his mistake. When he gave no reply, I continued. "I thought all you sailors knew not to use such foolish sailor terms when speaking to me."

"My sincerest apologies, Mademoiselle. The captain is waiting where the large wheel used for steering is located. Would you please do him the honor of coming to such a location?"

Now…I have to decide if I'll comply with this disrespectful little sailor or if I will simply ignore him and wait for the captain to come to me, like propriety demands.

Since propriety is the way a proper lady acts, I shall just have to wait for him to come.

But, then I'll be stuck here even longer.

Giving my dull quarters a cursory examination, I remembered how the prospect of staying was not a pleasant option.

I really need to get out of this room. I suppose…that this one time I can give in and ignore propriety. Besides, the sailor is sure not to know the conduct of propriety, and if he did, he was certainly not following them.

So I began to move the chair out of the way, unlocking the door and opening it. "This shouldn't take long, I still have very important things to attend to. Really, whatever could the captain need from me-"

My heart stopped in mid-beat.

This was no sailor…this was a…a…

Pirate.

I had always imagined them to be taller, but he did appear to be a younger pirate. He was smiling and that was all that was pleasant about him. His clothing was in sad shape, and well…his odor wasn't all that pleasant. Though, to be honest, he didn't smell as bad as many of the sailors either. But then…I lowered my gaze and saw the flash of metal. A pistol. Oh dear…

"Good afternoon, Mademoiselle," he tipped his shabby hat and flashed a broader grin. "The captain intends to look over all of his prisoners. If you would be so kind?" He took a step back and gestured down the corridor. "Can't keep him waiting, can you?"

"Y-you…you lied to me." My voice refused to be louder than a whisper. The look in his eye made me want to shake…but I would not be weak. I had no choice but to obey. I don't want to die…

Stiffly I began to walk down the hall, and then I held in a gasp as I felt the pistol be pressed to my back. Okay…I'll scream if I keep thinking about this…don't think about it. Don't think about it…

The wretched boy spoke again. And his continuously perfect French surprised… and irritated me. "You're mistaken, Mademoiselle. I am a sailor, but also a pirate. And the captain does want to see you at the helm. And since your crew is subdued, things are quite calm. So, to be technical and completely honest, I didn't say one lie to you. I only allowed your assumptions to be incorrect."

Insolent, insufferable…Oh! I don't know how I'll stand him.

I looked over my shoulder and was discouraged when my look of extreme disgust resulted in only a broad grin from the boy, the pistol being shoved against my back even harder.

And so we continued forward, towards the place the sailor had called…the 'helm' I believe. Stupid name for it, really.

Getting back on deck was a terrifying experience. All of the crew was tied around the large…mast…and even Father was looking on in horror! Oh…how this must pain him.

Certainly not as much as me though. He doesn't have the gun shoved into his back.

As we were about to reach the stairs leading to the…helm, I finally noticed a man leaning over the wheel.

He was most definitely a pirate…but was not altogether entirely unpleasant. His clothes seemed to be a better state than the boy behind me, but he was the captain. Or so I gathered from the situation. All of the other pirates had paused in their plundering, but this man was not. He seemed to have the privilege of surveying the ship and not having to do much else.

His gaze was on me, and well…it did not give me a comforting feeling. The awful man grinned and spoke to the boy in English…or what I think is English.

The boy replied back gruffly, not seeming too pleased with the situation.

Well, I'm not too happy about it either. Is that a puddle of blood…oh my…

All right, let me think a moment. Why am I not screaming and cowering? I'm being taken captive by pirates - not ugly pirates, but pirates nonetheless - at gunpoint.

Shock.

Yes, that has to be it…

Here we were, the pirate boy and myself, up the stairs, almost to the captain. Just a lovely situation this was becoming.

Then the captain was looking at me, and…heaven forbid, giving me a…was that a lecherous expression? And he said something too…

Now I think my shock is wearing off…I can definitely feel my heart beating again. Not to mention my nerves getting worse. The boy hadn't said anything for a time, and he speaks both languages, does he not? I glanced back at him, and then returned my eyes to the captain. Can't trust him not to…not to…well, I'm not sure what he'd do, but nothing sounds too appealing as of yet.

Not that anything will ever be appealing coming from a pirate, except being freed from them to continue on our course.

"Pierre," the Captain began, and then continued speaking in English. That was a French name…was the boy Pierre?

The boy eyed the captain, and then put the pistol away.

Oh thank God for that…I don't know what I would've done had the boy jabbed harder or…slipped.

The captain seemed pleased by this action, and then spoke to me again.

Why does he bother? Perhaps…perhaps Pierre, awful boy that he was, would tell me what the man was saying to me. This was all very confusing. First I think my crew has beaten the pirates, then I'm being forced by pirates to come to their captain…and then he continues to try and speak to me in English. What kind of lady does he think I am?

"Pierre?" the captain asked again.

The boy replied. Undoubtedly, that was the boy's name.

The two continued to converse for a few more seconds, but I wouldn't have been able to make anything of the babbled words anyway.

Pierre nodded. "What's your name?"

What? I scowled and let my eyes show the boy my disagreement to the request. He thinks he can just lie to me - no matter how he tries to deny it - force me by gunpoint out here and…oh my, he's putting his hand on a…that is one awful looking sword.

I think it's best not to test him any further.

"I am Janette Graton."

Pierre looked to the captain and said something, including my name.

The captain spoke in return.

This wasn't too bad, I suppose. Now I can hope that Pierre will tell me what the man said…but he's staring out into nothingness.

The captain brought him back to reality. "Pierre?"

He muttered something in English, and then turned a little closer to me. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

At least the man had some manners. Or could take an introduction properly.

Was he…oh dear.

He was looking me up and down. How very improper…was that a blush? Oh dear oh dear…

Now, I can't meet his gaze…I'll just…look around the ship. Yes, sounds like a splendid idea.

I hardly noticed that the two pirates had been conversing, when I heard Pierre say something quickly in French, and then as I looked to him in confusion he grabbed my wrist and pulled me along. We hurried back down the stairs and towards…oh no. Any place but there. We were headed towards the board that went from this place I now saw as my refuge to that…that pirate boat.

I refuse to go there.

So as we reached the board I set my weight backwards. Pierre tugged for a moment, then saw my defiance and a snarl came onto his lips.

"Tis not wise to test me, Miss Graton. I still have my pistol and cutlass. Not to mention the power to make you go wherever I want you to go, and do whatever I tell you to do."

"I refuse to go on that pirate…boat."

"Ship, Mademoiselle. And it's the Black Pearl just incase you didn't hear. Captain Sparrow ordered that you be taken to his cabin, and that's exactly where I'll take you. Drag you if I must. Or shall I use this?"

I watched his free hand drift to the pistol handle and I gulped.

His grin broadened. "Now will you comply?"

"I…I still want to know what he wants with me, this…this Captain Sparrow."

Pierre looked calm for a moment. "I really don't know, and don't care. We'll be going now." He tugged and I could not resist this time, my wrist would surely be bruised from this experience.

His hands were small, even smaller than mine, but were rough on my skin. Not to mention that he was able to overpower me. So, with no other option - that would serve my dignity, I suppose - Pierre took me to Captain Sparrow's cabin.

On first impression it disgusted me. It stank of…something alcoholic. Probably rum, knowing the tales of what pirates drank most often.

"Hm," Pierre muttered to himself, walking around the cabin, staying mostly by the door.

"Why are you still here?" I asked. If I was to suffer this fate, I wasn't so sure I wanted to deal with this annoying little pirate if I didn't have to.

Lazily he turned to me. Was the boy drunk? He almost seemed that way…

"Hm?" he smirked in some private joke. "You wish for me to leave you to the mercies of a pirate captain? One who has not seen a woman like you for at least a month? Not a wise move, Mademoiselle. Besides, Captain's orders that I bring you here and wait until he comes. So for now, I'm to keep you here." His smirk turned eerie. "But he didn't specify that you had to be unharmed. I advise staying on my good side, Miss Graton."

This boy continually threatens me…why? I doubt he has the conviction to stand his ground and wishes only to keep up a strong image.

I scoffed and turned my back. "You couldn't harm me even if you wanted to."

In what seemed the blink of an eye something whooshed by my ear and implanted itself in the wall. Slowly turning my gaze to the object, I saw what I feared…the boy had thrown a dagger, and missed me by an incredibly small distance.

"I intended to miss you, Mademoiselle." His tone was harsh and I dared not to move as his booted feet strode over to me, stopping at my left and putting his hand on the dagger. His expression was irritated - was he amused for a split second there? - and he continued his remarks. "Remember that I am pirate, and will not hesitate to hurt even you. I may be smaller than you, but do not think me to be a simple child." With a jerk he pulled the dagger out and walked to the other side of the room, no doubt storing the hidden dagger back in it's original location.

I was quite sure I hadn't seen a dagger on him…but I hadn't looked too closely at the boy either. And what of Captain Sparrow?

He reminded me strongly of the cheap novels in which roguish pirates swarmed the seas and took women captive…doing unspeakable things to them. The man didn't seem incredibly harsh, but he had captured my ship.

But no one had died.

Well, no, maybe there was a dead man on the deck…I at least vaguely remember blood. Right?

Yes, there had been blood.

Okay, I can't think of that…I have to focus on something pleasant…like…well…I slowly turned and looked over the cabin for an object to divert my attention from my current situation.

This cabin was not extremely large, but seemed relatively clean. There were maps - and was that a ruby? - on the table. That is a beautiful jewel…

Again, I felt a restraining grip on my wrist. The same wrist in fact, and I yelped in pain and surprise.

How very undignified.

Pierre was the perpetrator, and his expression was dark. "I wouldn't be trying to touch the captain's things if I was you. It may only be one ruby, but it's the captain's. Tis not wise to step between a pirate and his treasure." A small smile came onto his face. "Even if it's not his, tis not wise."

I nodded numbly. "I…it was just so pretty."

His eyes narrowed and he appeared to be contemplative. The boy really was confusing…one minute he's threatening me with a dagger, the next teasing me about being greedy about treasure. I only wanted to get a closer look at it, that's all.

Eventually he stopped his thinking and let me go, sitting down at the table and keeping his eyes on me. Seeing as though I had nothing better to do, I let my gaze wander the room and stayed still. I only got in trouble when I moved about the cabin, so no movement might keep me safe. But why must he stare?

I am so bored…

It was an eternity before the door opened and Pierre got to his feet, nodding his head and saying something to Captain Sparrow. In the dimmer light, the man was less terrifying. But he was an odd looking man…truly.

His hat was similar to Pierre's, and he wore a grimy red bandana below it. His black hair was definitely not very clean and tangled and…I don't even know what you call it. It stuck together in large clumps…how very unpleasant. His mustache was tasteful, at least. But his beard…were those two braids coming off his chin? How very peculiar… Beads were strung throughout his hair, and was that a bone? How…disturbing. His coat looked as if it had been stylish at one point - probably still was in England, they were so far behind with fashion - and he wore two belts. One that went across his waist, and the other…went over his right shoulder and across to his left hip. And on that was a…scabbard. I do know that term. My uncles did fence, and I suppose sword accessories had the same title elsewhere, did they not?

All the while, I failed to see that the two pirates were talking. Then I saw that Captain Sparrow, who was now sitting at the table, was looking at me, and…pointed with his hand? At what?

Pierre sat down at one of the chairs at the table and smiled kindly at me. What is he after? His tone was even warm towards me. "Would you do me the honor of sitting?"

What? Sit…at the same table as two pirates? Well…they haven't harmed me yet.

"Thank you," I whispered. I still can't be sure if the pirates will snap and do something…well…something I'd rather they didn't.

Pierre must have told Captain Sparrow what I said. Our conversation slowly took shape, everything having to go through Pierre.

The Captain's words did little to comfort me, though he at least was trying to make himself sound hospitable.

Throughout most of this, Pierre had seemed subdued, but suddenly something in his eyes perked up. Was he amused? Excited to translate this particular line?

"The Captain says your eyes are similar to the ocean; he would love to see them sinking into the depths."

What? My eyes widened in surprise. "Why do you say that, Captain?"

This captain must be mad…he must be…

"That is what the Captain envisions as he stares into your eyes during these last hours."

Pierre's words were not comforting me…what is going on? Our conversation had been so…bland before, but now…I wanted it to perk up a bit perhaps, but not like this.

"These last hours?" I finally managed to get out.

Pierre spoke in English to the despicable man, and the man nodded, leaning forward onto the table. He has to be mad…no reasonable person could grin like that and say such awful things…

"What is to become of me? Why will he throw me into the depths?"

I can't believe that I can still speak…just keep breathing Janette, keep breathing. The man is crazy, he couldn't possibly…

Wait. Crazy people are illogical.

That means that he could follow through…

Oh my…

If I had thought that Pierre's words were discomforting before…well…

"Into the depths? Who says I won't just keelhaul you, or ravage you and then leave you to my men?"

I know that I paled at that. There was no mistaking it as I began to get light headed. My mouth moved on its own, and I think I began to ramble on about my life being spared, and being taken to a shore, or a merchant ship…and…well, I think father paying a ransom for me as well. Soon enough my air ran out and I silently gasped, hoping that my pitiful pleas would soften some part of the vile man's heart…

There was still hope that he would release me unharmed…I can still hope.

But then, as Pierre was still speaking to him, the man leaned forward and grinned in that awful manner…

I lost it.

A shriek came out, and I jumped out of my chair, fleeing to the farthest point possible. I can not be near that evil man any longer.

Luckily neither advanced on me, but something strange occurred. Captain Sparrow looked most unhappy and he advanced on Pierre, talking angrily to him. Pierre replied back, and then the awful man jerked the boy up in the air, holding him up by his shirt collar.

Oh my…

Am I to be his next victim?

Please let it not be so…

Their conversation continued, and Captain Sparrow only got angrier. Then Pierre started to say something in French, I couldn't make it out though. This didn't please Captain Sparrow either.

Had Pierre been disobeying his captain? No, that's impossible. Perhaps the boy had been slightly defiant, but I do not see how anyone could stand up to such a wrath.

Eventually Sparrow seemed to have calmed a bit and he looked over in my direction for a moment.

Am I next? Oh please no…

The two pirates exchanged a few more words, and then Captain Sparrow simply let go of Pierre. Since the boy was hanging a few feet up in the air, I almost feared for his safety. But he must have good balance, as he landed on his feet and then bowed his head, tipping his hat at me and then hurrying out the door.

Now it's just me and Captain Sparrow.

God help me.

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Healer Ariel: Thanks for being so loyal! Such joy it brings me…and well…when Kendra saw your comments…*snickers* She was rather flustered, after of course she got her initial frustration and surprise out…But yes, you guys are a bit more perceptive than even I am. I hadn't fully realized that Kendra was displaying jealousy…*shrugs* You learn something new every day.

Rythmteck: Thank ye, thank ye, thank ye! Thank ye all! And…seeing as though Kendra is as of yet, in complete and total denial…she doesn't yet know of her… "claim"… *sighs* And I had such a cool chapter planned for when she realizes it…but you all spoiled it! *simmers* No fair…*sniffles* Oh well.

Louis Reade (or am I?): New reader!! Woo! *does a happy dance* So…Pierre and Louis are similar hm? But not French or captain bit…so, just the short, feisty, conniving and gender-identity-crisis like? Interesting…let me know if you get any stuff up.

Yoshiko-Rae: Yes, Kendra does enjoy her conniving moments…I only can imagine what her psuedo-parents had to endure… And yes, poor Janette and Cap'n Sparrow. But "good ol' Kendra"…*sniggers* That's so funny! I can't comprehend why…but it just strikes me funny bone!

And don't none of ye worry….got many more pages waiting to come up, but I suppose my college needs to come first…*sniffles* No fair…