DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.
Author's Notes: Kaoru believes that Kenshin is dead after his fight with Shougo. She vows to avenge his death by challenging Amakusa Shougo. Along the way, she begins a reign of terror against some of Kenshin's former enemies. Will any one be able stop her before she loses her sanity? K&K romance. (Please note, this fic is not based off the movie "An Eye for an Eye" I just couldn't think up another title.) An Eye for An Eye Romance/Drama Fanfiction by Gypsy-chan (Created 7/18/02; posted 4/2004) Enjoy!
Light Shimabara Arc Spoiler Warning (This story does not follow every detail of the actual Shimabara Arc episodes, especially in places where I've indicated that Shougo uses a corrupt blade. I changed that part for the sake of my story.) Also, this fanfic is totally OOC.
Please Note: Avast ye me Buckos! Sorry for the long delay but... I'm baaaccckk!!! In this chappie, I'll be usin' plenty of pirate lingo (glossary at the bottom). Special Note: Kenshin is OOC in this chapter and will be for the next two chapters to come. At this point in the story, he's been associating with pirates for the past four months and still doesn't know his true identity. His gentle rurouni side will only be shown to Shura whereas his Battousai side will be a mixture of Battousai/pirate. I think you'll like it. If not then I say, "Arrrrr.... Battousai the pirate will be makin' ye walk the plank, that he will." (LOL! That felt so fun to write! Okay on with the ficcie!^_^)
Before going on, I'd like to thank everyone who wrote reviews and sent emails requesting that I continue this story. Without your constant support, I'd probably would have stopped writing this ficcie. Thanks sooo much!!^_^
Also, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Female Hitokiri Battousai and Hitokiribattousai (angelknight). They sent in the best ideas for this chapter and the next. Thanks sooo much my friends! I couldn't have gotten through this chappie without your help! Okay, on with the chappie!^_^
Part Four
Sano was perched on a branch outside of the dojo. He saw both Kaoru and Soujirou as they entered the dojo gate. He focused back on Soujirou.
"I wonder what he is up to? I've got to watch him more carefully. I don't trust him." Sano then looked up toward the sky. "Don't worry Kenshin, I'll watch after jou-chan for you. I promise that I will not allow anything to happen to her."
********************
Four months had passed since Soujirou began staying at the dojo. He and Kaoru continued their early morning practice sessions in secret. Kaoru hated having to sneak out of her own dojo to practice. However, she knew that it was the only way she could train with Soujirou without arousing Sano's suspicion. Kaoru moved stealthily through the dojo. Having overslept, cost her valuable practice time. She began muttering curses under her breath as she dressed into her training clothes.
"Mou! I would have gotten up much sooner if Sano hadn't thrown that party last night. I should never have allowed him to convince me into staying up late. I must hurry!"
After slipping on her tabis she padded softly down the hallway to Yahiko's room. Kaoru eased the shoji back and peaked inside. She smiled at the way her errant student was sprawled all over his futon. She slid the shoji back to it's original position before heading down the hallway to where Sano was resting. Loud sounds were heard coming from inside of his room. Kaoru knew from the way he was mumbling and snorting in his sleep, he wasn't going to be waking up anytime soon. She continued down the hallway and headed for the kitchen. Once there, she gasped upon seeing what lay before her. There were empty sake bottles strewn about the floor along with bits and pieces of food.
"Look at this place," she exclaimed inwardly while still taking in the condition of her kitchen, "It's an absolute mess!"
Kaoru gave an exasperated sigh before kneeling down, gathering up the empty sake bottles and placing them into the sink. As she reached for a cleaning towel, she noticed several dark marking pens underneath it. A small smile played upon Kaoru's lips as she recalled watching little Ayame and Suzume using the dark colored pens to draw X's and O's on Yahiko's face. She had warned him about drinking too much. As usual, he ignored her and drank sake until he passed. That's when the two mischievous little girls went to work.
"Yahiko-chan will be angry once he finds out what Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan did to his face. Maybe next time he'll listen to me and not drink so much."
Kaoru shrugged off the matters over her rebellious student and continued in her cleaning efforts. Once everything had been cleared away, she wiped her forehead and sighed deeply.
"It's been a long time since we've had a party at the dojo. Everyone seemed to have had a nice time. Sano tried his best to cheer me up. I just wasn't in the mood. I faked a smile or two during the evening because I didn't want to depress the others."
Several tears began to trickled down her cheeks as her mind went on Kenshin.
"It's so hard to be happy without Kenshin. He was my only true happiness in this life. Now that he is gone, I only have revenge as my constant companion. I will use that revenge to exact punishment on the ones who stole my happiness."
Kaoru quickly slipped out of the dojo and headed for the forest where Soujirou was waiting. Upon reaching the clearing, she saw Soujirou doing his kata. She stood in awe as she watched him shifting his firm lean body towards his invisible opponent. The grace and power behind his movements sent a sudden chill up her spine.
"His kata is always done to perfection. The beauty, strength and speed he uses in executing his moves is..."
"Would you care to join me," Soujirou politely asked, bringing Kaoru out of her inner musings. She nodded and quickly took her place in front of him. Soujirou smiled at her briefly before they bowed in unison.
"Shall we began," Soujirou asked as his eyes met hers.
Kaoru quickly averted her eyes from his and simply nodded in response before getting into position. Soujirou smiled inwardly at her response before taking in several deep breaths. He then began the first movement by slowly raising his left hand to the left side of his chest and positioning his palm to face to the right. Next he balled his right hand into a fist and pointed it towards his left palm. As he shifted his weight to the right, Kaoru was standing opposite her sensei, mirroring his every move. They continued performing the rest of their morning kata in silence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES off the coast of Yokohama, was a large merchant ship carrying a vast array of cargo. Shura and her crew had been following the larger vessel for days. Rumor had it that the 80 foot, 300 ton Dutch Flute was involved in some kind of illegal trading. It's extensive cargo was only a cover for what was really stored aboard the ship. Shura knew that the booty plundered from the Dutch Flute would sustain her crew and village for months. Unfortunately, the larger vessel proved to be a challenge. Shura's small ship was no match for the heavy artillery and extra crewmen on board the other ship. However, despite the odds, Shura was determined to board the foreign vessel. Her crew had gone nearly a week without fresh food and water. If she didn't attack the Dutch Flute soon, she would have a mutiny on her hands.
A flash of light ripped through the darkened clouds, leaving streaks of silver in the charcoal colored sky. The shifting of the winds followed by more flashes of light brought Shura out of her cabin and on deck to where her crew were gathered.
"Yarr Cap'n Shura, looks like a storms a brewin," said a crewman as he climbed barefoot down the ship's rigging after having secured one of its tattered sails. "I can feel it in these old rickety bones. It's gonna be a bad one."
"Aye crewman Bentaki," Shura replied as she peered through her spyglass at her prey. The Dutch Flute appeared as a smudge in her lens. It was in full sail. Shura knew she had to act swiftly before the other vessel escaped her grasp. After a brief pause, she collapsed her spyglass and turned to regard the eager faces of her crew.
"Give ear me hearties! We cannot allow our prey to reach port. Even though she's heavily armed, she's near exhaustion from her long journey. We must attack while she's in a weakened state. All her precious cargo will be ours for the taking if we act quickly." Shura spun around to face her helmsmen. "Ujihiro! I'll need your best speed! We've got to capture our prey before the storm sets in!"
"Aye! Aye Cap'n," came his swift reply. Ujihiro began gesturing to several other crew mates to man the ropes and steady the rigging. Shura turned her attention to her gunners.
"Shizuoi! Nagafusa! Tokaji! Hurry and secure the long guns. We can't have them rolling about when the storm sets in!"
"Aye! Aye Cap'n!" They made a quick bow to Shura before rushing over to the cannons. Shura turned to the crewmen nearest her and continue to bark out more orders.
"Nishihara! Hideyoshi! Gather up the extra boarding hooks! As for the rest of you mates," she paused in speech to glance into the anxious faces of the remaining crewmen, "remember the code of the Kai-ryu! Anyone caught defying the code will be put to death! Now go and prepare yourselves for battle!"
"Aye, aye Cap'n!" came their hearty reply.
Shura gave her crew a slight nod of acknowledgement before returning to her cabin. The men grinned heartedly at one another as they began gathering swords, cutlasses, boarding axes, daggers and other weaponry used for battle. Several crewmen began chatting amongst themselves as to how they intended to use their ill-gotten gain.
"Arrr," drawled a crewman named Smitty, "can't wait to get me hands on all the gold that be on thar ship. Gonna' buy me the finest grub, a keg of grog and a strumpet with the biggest set of hooters on shore!" He cupped his chest in gesture of a woman's bosom and began to saunter around the deck. The crewmen nearest Smitty began whistling and making cat calls as they watched him mimicking a prostitute.
"Aye me bucko," chuckled Gilbert as he put his arm around his best friend's neck, "but first ye be needin' some Long Clothes," tugging at Shizuoi's tattered clothing, "if ye want the best whore on shore." Smitty pouted as the other crewmen laughed at him and pulled on his ragged clothing.
Gilbert grinned widely as he approached another crewman. "Tell us matey, what's ye brothels like in these parts. Rumor has it, ye whores really knows how to treats a man." He winked at the crewman and slapped him on the back as he released a deep throaty laugh. "ARR! HAR! HAR! HARRRR!!!"
At that moment, a large round man, with several long scars going across the bridge of his pointy nose approached them. He sneered at the two foreigners Captain Shura had recently recruited. Smitty and Gilbert were former naval men who turned to piracy. They had been imprisoned on one of the ships Shura plundered several weeks prior. Upon learning they were sentenced to hang for desertion and piracy, Shura decided to bring them into the folds of the Kai-ryu. She was down several crewmen due to the last attack and needed a couple of quick replacements. Gekki and his friends were opposed to having the foreigners join their crew. However, Captain Shura knew that naval men were highly skilled sailors. She felt their skills and navagational training would prove to be useful. If, however, they were found to be unworthy then she agreed to hand them over to her crew. The crew liked nothing more than to torture their victims senselessly before putting them to death.
"Yarr," Gekki drawled while giving the two foreign pirates a menacing glare, "ye gaijins ain't allowed to touch our whores. Ye need be gettin' back to yer own flea-bitten tramps. They be the only ones who want to touch yer scurvy hides!"
Those surrounding Smitty and Gilbert suddenly halted their laughter. They knew that a fight was about to break out between the two rival crewmen. Smitty scowled at Gekki before hastily drawing his sword and pointing it into Gekki's battle scarred face.
"Ye best be takin' that back matey or I'll be makin' ye shark bait!"
Gilbert quickly grabbed his friends arm. "Arrr Smitty, tain't worth it mate. We best be doin' wat the Cap'n ordered. Let's go!"
Smitty glared at Gekki again, before returing his sword to his scabbard. "Tis ye scurvy hide be spared today matey. But next time..."
"Belay that talk ye cowardly dog and fight," growled Gekki as he withdrew his cutlass.
Smitty withdrew his sword again after being insulted twice by Gekki. The two pirates were now glaring murderously at one another. Gekki crouched slightly and licked his blade in an effort to intimidate his opponent. Smitty stood firm, with sword in place as the bloodthirsty crowd began chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Within seconds the sound of steel clashing against steel was resounding throughout the deck. As the two men fought, the other crewmen began calling for blood. Suddenly, a distinctive sound of a katana being released from it's scabbard was heard. The crew hushed abruptly upon seeing the owner of the sword step forward.
"Yarr, there'll be no spillin' of blood on this ship today me hearties," replied a man with flaming red hair and a cross-shaped scar. A chill seemed to run down the spines of the crew as the diminutive swordsman with a black leather patch tied over his eye faced them.
Gekki glared into Kenshin-Kintaro's direction. "Arrrr.... ye have no business interferrin' in our fight Kintaro."
Gidayu, one of Gekki's friends, was shocked by his open response. He knew that his friend despised the first mate, but not to the point of outwardly challenging him. Gidayu turned toward Gekki and whispered harshly, "Belay that talk matey or the Cap'n will be givin' ye a taste of the cat for disrespectin' the First Mate!"
"To 'Ell with the First Mate," Gekki spat as he raised his sword towards Kenshin-Kintaro. "I'm tired of takin' orders from that scurvy dog. It's cause of him, we be still chasing our prey wit our tails tween' our legs. Now if I be first mate, we'd be countin' our plundered gold by now. Our prey would be feedin' the fish from their watery grave."
The crew began to murmur over the matter. Gekki smirked knowingly at Kenshin-Kintaro as he continued on with his mutinous talk.
"Since Cap'n made Kintaro first mate, she be forgettn' 'bout the rest of us." Several crewmen nodded and glared dangerously towards Kenshin-Kintaro as Gekki went on. "She's always coddlin' him cause he ain't got both his deadlights. Ye don't see her coddlin' poor old Uchimaro. The wench be makin' him swab the deck just like the rest of us!"
"Aye! Aye," exclaimed a few crewmen as they looked into Uchimaro's direction. He was swabbing the deck on his hands and knees. Uchimaro's legs had been removed several years prior due to gangrene.
The loud murmuring of the disgruntle men finally reached the captain's cabin. Shura grabbed her nunchuks and hastened for the door. She knew that several of the crew despised Kenshin-Kintaro. They challenged him at every opportunity. As Shura reached for the knob, Iwanzu grabbed her arm and shook his head.
"No Cap'n, ye can't be interferrin' this time."
"But this is my ship Iwanzu," she hissed. "I can't allow this type of mutinous behaviour!"
"Forgive me boldness Cap'n Shura, but the crew be within their rights to challenge yer First Mate before we head into battle."
Shura stood frozen. "The crew are within their rights? No!" She whipped her head around to her servant and growled, "Explain yourself Iwanzu and ye best be quick about it!"
Iwanzu swallowed down the large lump that had suddenly developed in his throat. He started off very carefully. "Well... what I means is.... the last time we went to plunderin' Himura... I mean Kintaro, seemed to freeze up in the heat of battle. If you hadn't stepped in and saved him... well..."
"A captain is suppose to protect his crew," she said in defense. "I've saved the lives of many a injured crewmen in the midst of battle. It never was an issue before."
"Aye cap'n, but this time things are different. The men be noticin' how ye always seem to be coddlin' Kintaro. Rumor has it that there be something betweens ye and yer first mate."
Shura cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink. She quickly turned her back on Iwanzu, not wanting her faithful servant to catch her blushing.
"I don't know why the crew would say such a vile thing," she answered bluntly. "There's absolutely nothing going on between us!"
Iwanzu smiled inwardly. He knew from the moment Shura laid eyes upon Kenshin, she was in love with him. The trouble was, she refused to admit it to herself. Being an older man and having fallen in love in his younger days, he knew that she was confused about matters of the heart. From a child, she never thought of herself as a female. She tried to be strong like her father and the other male members of the Kai-ryu pirates. Shura's mother died young and wasn't able to tell her about the ways of a woman. Iwanzu tried to have some of the older women of the village talk to Shura about such things, but she often refused to listen, stating that she wasn't interested in trifling female matters. However, since Kenshin came back into her life, her heart would not allow her to suppress her true feelings any longer.
Iwanzu cleared his through to get the attention of his captain. Shura slowly turned to face him.
"Cap'n, try as ye be, ye stills a woman and ye can't keep suppressin' what's natural..."
Shura blushed crimson in color. "Iwanzo! Don't ever say..."
"Please," he begged putting his hands up, "allow this old salty sea dog to finish." Shura let out an exasperated sigh before nodding for him to continue. "When we get done with the plunderin' ye need to tell Kintaro yer feelin's. Me thinks he be feelin the same too."
Shura's heart quickened as she stared at him wide-eyed. "Do... do you think so," she asked timidly whilst clutching her hand to her chest.
"Aye, that he be. That's why ye must let Himura handle his own battles. If he be one day leader of the Kai-ryu, he need be earnin' the men's trust and respect."
Shura dropped her hands to her side and sighed defeatedly. "I know you're right Iwanzu. It's just that I still worry about him. He's been with us for four months now and still hasn't gotten his sea legs."
"It'll come Cap'n, just give'm some time." Shura didn't respond. "That young feller has seen many of battles in his day. I don't think a little sea water will stop that young man. He be Kai-ryu now."
"Aye," Shura replied with a small smile. Iwanzu gave her a quick toothless grin before hobbling out the door. Shura sighed again before returning to her desk. She picked up a long feathered quill, dipped the tip into a small ink bottle and continued sketching out her strategies of attack.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Out on deck, Gekki continued in his bashing of Kenshin-Kintaro and Shura.
"Me thinks the only reason the wench keeps him 'round is so's he can have his way wit her when she gets in heat. He's darn near purdy nuf to be a whore. Maybe we can let him have his wicked way wit us too!"
Loud raunchy sounds were heard in the background as Gekki continued glaring at Kenshin-Kintaro. Kenshin-Kintaro stood firm, showing no outward concern. An evil grin suddenly grew upon Gekki's face as he took his cutlass and beckoned for Kenshin-Kintaro. "Come matey, give us a kiss." He puckered his lips up and started making kissing sounds.
With one swift move, Kenshin-Kintaro had unsheathed his sword, knocked Gekki's cutlass from out of his hand and had thrust the tip of his blade against Gekki's scraggly throat.
"Belay that talk ye scurvy seadog," Kenshin-Kintaro hissed in a baritone, "Ye best not be speakin' ill of the Cap'n again or ye salty tongue will be used for fish bait. Savvy?" Kenshin-Kintaro press the tip of the blade further into Gekki's flesh causing a thin trail of blood to stream down his neck.
"Savvy," Gekki grunted out while wincing from the pressure of Kenshin-Kintaro's blade to his neck. Kenshin-Kintaro turned to another crew member.
"Bentaki! Gidayu! Atsushi!"
They hurried over to Kenshin-Kintaro, bowed deeply and in unison replied, "Aye sir!"
"Bind him to the guns," Kenshin-Kintaro ordered Bentaki and Gidayu. They took their fellow crewman, bent his body over one of the long steel cannons and bound his arms around its barrel. Once secured, Kenshin-Kintaro bellowed to Atsushi, "Bring me the 'Cat o Nines'! Me thinks it's time Gekki tastes the cat."
"Aye, aye Kintaro sir!" Atsushi rushed to get the instrument of punishment as ordered.
When he returned, he handed the Cat o Nines to Kenshin-Kintaro. Kenshin-Kintaro took the black leather whip with its nine knotted lines and snapped it loudly in front of the crew. Gekki tried not to show fear but deep inside, he felt as though his guts were going to burst. The Cat o Nines, Kenshin-Kintaro had in hand, had fish hooks tied to the end of each line to give it more striking force. Kenshin-Kintaro gathered the 22 inch tails of the whip and glared at all those around him.
"Let this be servin' as a warning. Any of ye swabs be speakin' ill of the Cap'n will suffer the same fate."
Kenshin-Kintaro turned to Gekki, ripped the back off his shirt and proceeded with the flogging. Gekki shrieked out in pain after receiving the second stroke, which to him, felt more like eighteen. By the time the flogging was done Gekki's back was covered in blood. Kenshin-Kintaro picked up a bucket of salty water that was sitting near his feet and threw it upon Gekki's back. When the salty water hit the large whelps it sent a sudden wave of pain through out his body. Gekki's ear-piercing screams were heard though out the ship.
Kenshin-Kintaro turned to the crew and scowled, "Back to ye duties you scurvy sea dogs or ye'll be tastin' the cat too!"
The crew quickly dispersed to their assigned posts. When Kenshin-Kintaro left the deck, Gidayu cut him loose. Gekki slid off the cannon onto the deck in a bloody heap.
"Ye shouldn't have challenged the first mate," whispered Gidayu as he tried to help his friend sit up. Gekki winced in pain as he rested upon Gidayu's arm.
"I swear," Gekki panted in a low strained voice, "Kintaro will pay!" His eyes fluttered slightly before closing. Gidayu caught Gekki's head as it slumped forward. He rested it upon his shoulder and muttered inwardly. "Aye, me bucko, we be makin that vermin pay with his freakin' life!"
**~~~~~****~~~~~~**
Kenshin-Kintaro was now standing outside of Shura's cabin. He sighed deeply as he thought back on what had transpired. A part of him felt remorse over having to use the Cat o Nines on Gekki while the other part of him felt as if he could have slit the man's throat and tossed him overboard for insulting him and the captain. Kenshin-Kintaro shook his head as to clear that last thought from his mind before knocking on Shura's cabin door.
"Avast ye!"
"First mate Kintaro," Kenshin said.
"You may enter," Shura called out.
As he stepped into the cabin, Shura noticed traces of blood sprayed across his shirt. She quickly scanned his diminutive form for injuries. Upon seeing that the blood was not his, she let out a sigh of relief. Kenshin-Kintaro gave her a questioning look. Shura quickly averted her eyes toward the floor and feign a cough.
"Are you ill Captain Shura," Kenshin-Kintaro asked innocently.
"No," she answered swiftly, "Just a little something in my throat." She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and feigned another cough before turning her attention back to Kenshin-Kintaro. "Be there trouble with the crew first mate?"
"Nay Captain," he replied while walking to the table where she sat. "Just settling a little dispute amongst the crew. Nothing for you to be concerned over. The crew are readying themselves and will be prepared to attack upon your orders."
"Good," she said quickly turning her attention to the map on the table. "The winds are picking up in our favor. At the current speed, we should be upon our prey within the hour."
"Aye," Kenshin-Kintaro responded while staring at the sketches of the Dutch Flute, "Once we near her, I'll take a few of me maties and swim under water towards her..."
"Nay," came Shura's brusque reply, "It's too dangerous. I'll be needing you to stay aboard. Gidayu and Bentaki will go instead."
"But Captain, I..."
"I've given you an order first mate Kintaro," Shura snapped. "I expect you to handle things aboard this ship during our attack. Now go on deck. I have many things to do."
"Aye, aye Captain," Kenshin-Kintaro replied as he bowed deeply before her. Shura turned abruptly and headed for the other side of her desk. Kenshin-Kintaro took two steps backwards before faltering in step. Shura glanced upward and found Kenshin-Kintaro standing in place staring at her. A light blush swept across Shura's cheeks.
"Wh--What are you still doing here," she stuttered while averting her eyes towards the top of her desk. "I've given you an order." She began shuffling papers around on her desk, trying to avoid eye contact.
"That you have," Kenshin-Kintaro explained as he took two small steps forward. "Before I go, I must know why you've ordered me to stay on the ship? As First Mate, it's my job to lead the crew in an attack on our prey. Why must I always stay behind?"
"Because this attack is too risky," she answered swiftly. "Our prey is heavily armed and the storm is sure to set in soon. I'm not sure if we will be able to plunder the ship and escape unharmed."
"That is why this unworthy one should go," Kenshin countered while moving even closer to her. Shura felt her heart flutter and her knees weakening as to their closeness. She immediately propped her hand upon the corner of her desk to steady herself after having taken in his strong manly scent. As Kenshin continued further in his explanation, Shura had to will herself to remain focused.
"...You are the Captain of the Kai-ryu and leader of our people..." he paused and put his hand upon her shoulder. Shura felt a tingling sensation rush through her body under his gentle touch. Warm-violet eyes gazed softly into hers. "Your life is too important to us.... and to me."
Shura felt as if her heart was going to burst into flames. No man had ever told her that she was important. She immediately fell into his arms and cried, "Your life is important to me too. Please, I beg of you, don't go," she sobbed further, "I can't bear the thought of not having you by my side."
Kenshin-Kintaro smiled down at Shura as she wept into his chest. "Do not concern yourself over this unworthy one," he uttered softly while brushing away the stray tears upon her cheeks.
"I can't help but worry," she whimpered. "It took a long time for you to regain sight in one of your eyes." Shura took her hand and gently touched his leather eye patch. "I dare not think of what could happen once you're in the heat of battle aboard our prey. Not only will you have to face our enemies but there are still mutinous sea dogs within. Gekki's mates will try to avenge him once you're on board our prey. They know the punishment for striking a fellow crewman, but that won't stop those vermin from doing something vile while in the midst of battle."
"If Gekki and his mates choose to break the rules of the Kai-ryu, then I shall excute a swift punishment," Kenshin sternly replied. "However, if I don't lead the crew in the attack, then the challenging of my position will continue. Please allow this unworthy one to go this one time Miss Shura." Her face softened briefly before returning to a more serious one.
"Alright," she said pushing herself back from him. "You can take Smitty and Gilbert. They are the most skilled crewmen aboard ship. Once you've reached our prey, wait for my signal before boarding, savvy!"
"Savvy," Kenshin-Kintaro replied before stepping back and bowing to her. He quickly took his leave of her cabin. Shura glanced wistfully at the spot where Kenshin held her in his arms.
"You better come back to me alive Himura. Because..."
She placed her hand over her heart and blushed inwardly. "I've fallen in love with you."
Shouting crewman brought Shura back to the task at hand. She quickly gathered up her long flowing cloak and nunchucks before heading for the deck.
**~~~~~****~~~~~~**
The captain aboard the Dutch flute was now standing on deck opposite his helmsman. He had been aware of the smaller vessel shadowing them for close to an hour, but hadn't given them a second thought, thinking the smaller vessel to be a local merchant ship. However, as Shura's ship grew closer, he became concerned. The captain quickly took out his spyglass and turned it towards the approaching vessel. He gasped upon seeing atop the mast of the "merchant ship" was a black pirate's flag flying proudly through the heavy winds.
"Blimey! There's freakin' pirates behind us," exclaimed one of the crewmen as he leaned on the ship's railing.
"I knew something evil was about to happen," said an older crewman. "I felt it in me bones upon the first winds."
The less experienced crewmen began to panic.
"We're all going to die," hollered a young crewman, who had never encountered pirates before. "They're going to kill us all and...."
The young crewman was abruptly cut off upon receiving a blow to the back of his head. The young man fell to the deck unconscious. Everyone turned to see the captain standing behind the young crewman. He scowled at his crew.
"Cowards! All of you," he shouted while pointing his sword at them. "There'll be no talking of dying while I'm in command of this vessel. God help the man that doesn't protect this ship! When I'm through with your sorry hides, you'd wish you were killed by pirates. Now get back to your post and prepare to fight!"
"Aye! Aye Captain," they replied in unison before rushing off to their assigned posts.
The captain mentally kicked himself for hiring so many landlubbers to protect his precious cargo. He resheathed his sword and turned toward his cabin to retrieve his trusty flintlock. Upon reaching the cabin, he padded over to his desk and pulled open the top drawer. He smiled as he reached for his trusty flintlock. It had save his life many times in the past. Before closing the drawer, he noticed a small bible lying next to it. It was given to him by his lady friend back home. He took it out of the drawer and held it to his nostrils. The scent of her sweet perfume was still lingering on it. His lady friend would not allow him to set sail without it. The captain wasn't a god fearing man, but when facing deadly pirates, he suddenly became religious. He offered up a quick prayer to whomever would listen to him before placing the bible back into his desk drawer. With his trusty sword and flintlock in place, he headed on deck ready for action.
"Captain, shall we give those vermin a warning across the bow?"
The captain nodded to his gunner in response. Within seconds, the deafening sounds of a cannon firing bellowed out and hit the sea a few yards short of Shura's ship. The helmsman of Shura's vessel managed to avoid getting broadside from their prey.
"Once more," the captain of the Dutch flute commanded. "We'll blow them out of the wa..." He halted in mid-sentence upon seeing a man suddenly appear before his eyes. The man had flaming red hair and a cross shaped scar. He stood atop the railing holding on to one of the ship's rigging. The captain ordered one of his crewmen to attack. The young crewman rushed forward but suddenly skidded to a halt. He stared into the deep amber eyes of his opponent and yelled,
"It be the devil himself! We're all doomed to hell!"
TO BE CONTINUED........
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Pirate Glossary:
Avast! - Meaning, "Hey" "Stop" "What you are doing?" or "Who goes there?" derived/corrupted from 'hold fast'.
Aye -- "Yes!"
Belay -- Meaning, to stop or be quiet or "Shut up!"
Boatswain - Usually called First Mate, Second Mate, etc., although few pirate vessels had more than a First.
Bucko - Familiar term. "me bucko" = my friend."
Cat o'nine tails, or just "cat" -- a whip with many lashes, used for flogging. "A taste of the cat" might refer to a full flogging, or just a single blow to "smarten up" a recalcitrant hand.
Cutlass -- A short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers... probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword.
Deadlights - Eyes. "Use yer deadlights, matey!"
'Ell -- A destination, as in, "To 'ell with you, matey!"
Grog -- Any alcoholic drink. Specifically, diluted rum.
Handsomely - Quickly. "Handsomely now, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Keelhaul -- Punishment by dragging under the ship, from one side to the other. The victim of a keelhauling would be half-drowned, or worse, and lacerated by the barnacles that grew beneath the ship.
Landlubber - a term given to one fond of land as opposed to sea. The terms doesn't derive from "land lover" but rather from the root of "lubber" which means clumsy or uncoordinated. Thus, a landlubber is one who is awkward at sea for familiarity with the land. Of course, this term was used to insult the abilities of one at sea.
Long Clothes -- Long clothes were a style of clothing best suited to land.
Matey - A piratical way to address someone in a cheerful, friendly, fashion
Me Hearties -- Typical way for a pirate leader to address his crew.
Plunder - To steal goods
Rigging - The system of ropes, chains, and tackle used to support and control the masts, sails, and yards of a sailing vessel.
Savvy?-- Agreed? or Got it?
Scurvy -- (1) A deficiency disease which often afflicted sailors; it was caused by lack of vitamin C. (2) A derogatory adjective suitable for use in a loud voice, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!"
Shark bait -- (1) Your foes, who are about to feed the fish (q.v.). (2) A worthless or lazy sailor; a lubber who is no use aboard ship
Spyglass -- A telescope
Strumpet-- Prostitute
Yarr -- Used to begin sentences
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Author's Notes: Ahoy maties! Hope you enjoyed this chapter update. Again, sorry for such a long delay. My brain cells like died and I just couldn't get inspired. So after watching Pirates of the Carrib, Master and Commander and the Last Samurai, I suddenly got inspired again. The part in this chappie where I had Kaoru and Soujirou do Kata reminded me of a scene from Last Samurai. In the next chapter, I'll have more Soujirou/Kaoru interaction. I've got to get her started in exacting her revenge for her beloved Kenshin (cuddles Kenshin ^_^). Anyhoo, the Gekki I used in this chapter, is the same guy on the pirate episode who took Kaoru away from Kenshin. He said he wanted to keep her for his girlfriend. In this story, however, I'm writing him in a way that he never met up with Kenshin or took part in the mutiny. I needed a good fall guy and this jerky pirate fits my purpose. Also, I know there's no way pirates would get into a scuffle with each other right before a battle. It was just my crazy way of introducing Kenshin in his pirate role in this part.
Okay, before ye maties start throwing daggers at me, I need to explain a few things.
(1) Why I put two foreigners (Smitty and Gilbert) on the boat with Shura's crew? Well, for those who saw the Samurai X movie, "Requiem for the Meiji Patriots", you'll probably recall within the first scene or so, a disturbance caused by a few english sailors, in Yokohoma, trying to make a pass at a young Japanese girl name Toki. Shigure starts to defend her before Kenshin and the gang, in Yokohoma on holiday at the time, help out. Now I'm not going into detail of what happened, but I thought it would be cool to add a couple of foreigners into this story.
(2) Why the heck is Kenshin acting like he likes Shura? As I mentioned in the first set of author's notes, Kenshin still has amnesia. He doesn't remember Kaoru or anything about his former life. In the next chapter, the flashbacks will start coming more frequently. Until then, the only person he trusts is Shura. Shura, on the other hand, is experiencing her first taste of true love. Kenshin is the only man that has ever touched her heart. So next chapter there will be more Shura/Kenshin waff.
Anyhoo, I've had a lot of fun researching stuff on pirates. Now I'm no expert on the subject but I'll try to incorporate the little that I learned. I can say one thing for sure, from what I learned, I'd never become a pirate. For one I get sea sick and well, that's pretty much it!^_^ However, I think it would be fun to see Battousai dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow. Arr, he'd make one ell of a fine pyrate, that he would!"
Okay, so now that I've gotten all inspired, I'm going to balance out this story between Kenshin's life as a pirate and Kaoru's life as she learns what it means to be a Hitokiri. I think this story will run to close to 8 chapters, 10 chapters the max. (got to get back to my other unfinished ficcies.^_^) Until next time!!
Aye me hearties! If ye want more chapters, press that thar review button below. As usual, constructive critism is welcomed. flames will be used to light me cannons. Arrr..!!