Thank you for the review FALLEN-S. ^_^ Here's the next chapter you asked
for. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or Swiss Family Robinson. But I do own my Millennium Items.
Chapter Two
Pirates
"A ship? That's the reason you brought me here?" Seto asked infuriated.
"It's been following us ever since we entered the tropics this morning at four. Sometimes it goes out of range of the radar but it always comes back in the same place," Malik answered.
"Let me see this," Seto said shoving Malik out of the way. He leaned over the radar and pressed a few buttons. His frown reflected on his Millennium Tag (aka necklace). Try as he might he couldn't come up with a logical explanation.
"Who's on the next shift?" he asked not taking his eyes off the flashing dot of the ship.
"Bakura and his Yami."
"Tell them to keep an eye on this vessel. If it gets closer call me," he said and walked out to the top deck. He hosted himself up on top of the cockpit and pulled out a mini telescope. He looked in the direction of the supposed trailing ship. He spotted a rather large dot on the horizon but it was too far away to tell what it was.
He jumped off and landed on the lower deck as Téa walked out on board. There was a silence as they both looked at each other in surprise.
Finally Téa spoke up. "So did you come out here to see the sunrise too?" she asked leaning on the railing as the first rays of the sun shone out across the sea. She was wearing blue-jeans shorts, a sky blue, sleeveless top that ended just above her bellybutton, sandals, and her Millennium Bracelet.
Seto stood up from his crouched position and stared out at the waters too.
"No, Yami Malik had the nerve to wake me because they thought a ship was following us," at this particular moment Téa turned her gaze to Seto with a questioning look upon her face. Seto saw this out of the corner of his eye and added, "It's most likely a merchant ship or the Coast Guard, so I wouldn't worry about it." He too leaned on the rail.
Téa looked back at the sea.
"Are you going to tell the others about the ship?"
Seto glanced at her. "I don't see any reason to make them worry over something as insignificant as that," he answered.
Just then a dolphin leapt out of the waters, right where Seto and Téa were standing spraying both of them with salt water. Téa was so startled that she jumped back in astonishment, straight into Seto's arms. Téa hung on to him while she recovered from the shock.
"Er . . . are you okay?" Seto asked uncomfortably as he helped her regain her footing noticing the closeness of their bodies.
"Uh . . . Wha? Oh, I-I think so," Téa muttered blushing. She regained her composer and stood a little away from the rail.
Seto too was blushing. Great Scott, Seto! What're you thinking! I mean sure she's nice and pretty and sweet and . . . damn! Just focus your mind on something else, he reprimanded himself silently.
Just then the door leading to the cabin opened and Joey Wheeler stepped out. He was wearing his usual jeans and white T-shirt. On his finger his Millennium Ringu (aka ring) glinted in the morning sunlight.
He took a deep breath, "Ahh, the salty sea air." He noticed Téa and Seto watching him. "Hey guys! What's up? What're you two doing out here while the rest of us 'ave been sleepin'?" he asked looking at them each in turn.
"That is none of your business, Wheeler," Seto snapped at him and attempted to walk past him. Joey stepped in the way.
"Oh no. You ain't goin' nowhere. Let me guess. You two like each other!" Joey grinned foolishly not noticing Seto's look of astonishment mixed with rage and Téa's deep blush with a look of bewilderment. "Heeheehee! Kaiba and Téa sittin' in a tree, K-I-S - AGH!!" Joey glared at Seto from the ground clutching his head. "What did you do that for?!" he demanded.
Seto stood above him rubbing his knuckles satisfied with his punching Joey in the head. "I suggest you keep you nose out of other people's business, Wheeler, or one day you'll find yourself in over your head." He opened the door and walked into the kitchen area where Bakura was running around trying to cook breakfast and keep Tristan away from the food while his Yami walked through the kitchen getting in the way of everyone. Yugi, Yami, Duke, and Isis sat at the large kitchen table watching the haywire.
Joey looked at Téa who was still blushing.
"So you guys are going out?" he asked.
He said the wrong thing evidently because Téa suddenly swooped down on him and slapped him across the face.
"Will you knock it off?! I do NOT like Kaiba and he doesn't like me! We just happen to wake up early! Okay?!" With that she stalked off furiously. Joey stared at her amazed. Then shakily he stood up and stumbled into the kitchen.
Joey sat down next to Yugi. Yugi was wearing his usual black muscle shirt, blue slacks, and his Millennium Puzzle. He had apparently just gotten up because he kept yawning. Yami's wardrobe mirrored Yugi's as always.
"Joey, what happened to you? Did you fall on your head or something?" asked Yugi stifling a yawn as he turned to look at Joey.
"Ask Kaiba-boy and his sweetheart Téa," he grumbled angrily glaring at Seto's back. Seto was trying to help Bakura control Tristan.
Both Yugi and Yami did a double-take at Joey along with a passing Yami Bakura as Duke and Isis turned to stared wide-eyed in amazement.
"Kaiba . . ." whispered Duke startled.
". . . and Téa?!" Yami Bakura finished not noticing Tristan bumping into him to escape Seto's and Bakura's clutches.
"Is, um . . . that why you look a mess?" Yugi asked attentively.
Joey glanced at him defensively. "I swear didn't catch them doing anything 'cept standing together! An' when I asked what they were doing Kaiba got all mad and ended up punching me then I asked Téa if they were going out, she yelled at me an' slapped me."
Yami Bakura snickered. He was wearing, like Bakura, blue-jeans, a green T- shirt, and the Millennium Ring.
"Sounds like they've got a little secret of theirs," he said, looking as though Christmas had come early.
Duke rolled his eyes. He wore his dark blue muscle shirt, black slacks, a bluish purple vest, and his Millennium Kasa (aka headband). Isis sitting next to him stifled a giggle. She was wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt with a white long-sleeve shirt underneath, khaki capris, her usual jewelry, and her Millennium Necklace.
"HEY! WATCH OUT! THAT'S THE PANCAKES!" Bakura cried as Tristan tripped and started to fall onto the breakfast he had prepared. Seto reached out and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, just an inch away from the pancakes. Bakura fainted straight into the arms of Mai and Serenity whom had just both come up the steps from the dorms. Mai wore a strapless, white shirt that showed her stomach, her light purple vest with gold trimming; short shorts that were very light purple, and her Millennium Kubiwa (aka choker). Serenity was dressed in a blue tank top with a white, unbuttoned blouse covering it, white shorts, a blue scarf in her hair, and her Millennium Udewa (aka ankle bracelet).
"Uh . . . what's been going on here?" Mai asked looking down at Bakura and then at Seto holding Tristan in a vice grip and finally at a miserable Joey surrounded by Yugi, Yami, Duke, Isis, and Yami Bakura.
"Oh, hi Serenity! How's it going?" Tristan asked ignoring Mai. Seto gave him a resounding cuff on the head. "Ow!" Tristan was dressed in a plain white shirt, black jeans, and his Millennium Chain hanging around his waist.
Bakura woke-up though he still seemed at the end of his wits. He was set between Mai and Serenity; Serenity was sitting next to her brother. Next to Mai was Yami Bakura who was just as disgusted at the seating arrangements as her if not more. Tristan was forced to sit with Yami Bakura and Yami Malik which, as you can imagine, was a nightmare to him. Malik sat on his Yami's left with Seto and Mokuba followed by Téa. And finally Duke, Isis, Yami, and Yugi were seated together.
The food was great, but the mood needed a little adjustment. Joey kept shooting Seto and Téa warning glances while they both avoided each other's eye. Tristan sat cowering between the two Yami`s and Mai scooted as close to Bakura as she dared to keep away from his Yami. Malik kept looking up worriedly at Seto. Yugi and Serenity tried to strike up a conversation with Joey but failed. Duke talked with Isis and Yami but in the silence of the others the conversation didn't last long. So in all everyone's breakfast was a solemn one and, in some cases, a miserable one.
The day progressed the same way. Eventually Yami, Yugi, Duke, Mai, Tristan, Serenity, Isis, and Mokuba retreated to a secluded part of the ship where they could avoid any conflicts that arose. Lunch and dinner were pretty much silent. Everyone retired to their beds with their own individual thoughts about the day.
***
Téa and Mai were on duty that night. Mai held the wheel while Téa stared bored at the empty blackness in front of them. Around eleven they heard the pitter-patter of rain hitting the window.
"Looks like we're in for a storm tonight," Mai remarked.
Téa studied the weather meter. "It doesn't look too bad so far. I'll keep an eye on it."
Around twelve it had calmed down but according to the meter more was soon to come.
"I hate night duty," Mai complained. "Why didn't we just hire a captain?"
Téa wasn't listening. She was staring at the radar intently.
"I mean this is suppose to be a cruise to the Bahamas," Mai continued, "not a trip that you have to do everything yourself!"
Téa stood up and without a word ran outside. She could hear thunder in the distance but she ignored it. She stared out intensely behind the wake of the ship.
"Téa? What're you doing?" Mai called out to her.
Téa answered, "I'll be right back." And she jumped off the side to the lower deck. She wavered a little from the force then darted to the cabin. Téa went over to the sleeping form of Seto Kaiba and shook him awake.
He grunted then slowly opened his eyes.
"Wha . . . Téa?! What're you . . . What's . . . Is something wrong?" he finally managed to ask.
Téa leaned down to whisper in his ear so not to wake the others, "The ship that's been tailing us is speeding up. In fact, it's in sight and . . ." she trailed off.
Seto looked at her curiously, "And what?"
Téa's eyes filled with worry. "I.I once saw a picture of a pirate ship in the newspaper and.and it looks similar, with weapons and, and." she shuddered.
Seto cocked an eyebrow at her but he could tell she was genuinely worried. He sighed and got out of his bed. He was still dressed in his clothes for on a ship it was possible that dangerous things could happen at any moment. Like Mai driving the ship into a whirlpool was very possible in his mind along with Joey wrecking the ship. He followed Téa out silently.
As soon as they arrived in the cockpit the transmitter yelled out to the entire ship (in English which the three of them knew well enough): "This is Skull Four. I repeat, Skull Four. We have come to take over your ship. Surrender and you will not be harmed."
Mai jumped about a foot off the ground yet somehow managed to keep the ship on course. Téa stood by the door terrified. Seto grabbed the microphone that was attached to the transmitter.
"Who is this?!" he demanded angrily
"This is the Skull Four. Surrender and you will not be harmed."
"Harmed! What's the meaning of this?!" Seto asked.
"I repeat surrender and you will not be harmed!" came the harsh reply.
Seto started to lose his patience. "What's this rubbish about surrendering?!"
There was static then in the background some voices. Finally a new voice spoke up, "Listen up kid, surrender or we're going to fire at you."
"FIRE AT US!" Mai shrieked. "Give me that!" she demanded grabbing the microphone.
"What on earth did we do to you?!" she yelled. "And who are you to be giving orders to us? If you don't give me an answer I'm going to be the one firing at YOU!"
The voice laughed, "Well missy, you didn't do anything except help us in certain ways."
Téa walked over to Mai. "Are you.pirates?" she asked timidly.
There was a pause, then, "Yes, I guess you can say that. Now I want your answer! Will you or will you not surrender? I suggest the first if you know what's good for you."
"Sorry to break it to you but I never surrender to anyone, especially to scum like you!" Seto growled.
"We aren't going down without a fight!" Mai said.
"The only thing is," Téa's voice hardened, "we aren't going down at all!"
"Very well then," came the reply.
An explosion sounded from outside. The force tossed them across the room. Mai managed to regain control of the wheel fortunately. Téa and Seto had ended in a crumbled heap. Seto scrambled up and helped Téa to her feet.
"Mai, you stay here and try to keep the ship on course. Téa, you and I will go down and wake the rest, not like they aren't already awake by now," Seto said.
It turned out that Téa and Seto didn't have to even open the cabin door for their comrades came stumbling out, wide-eyed with shock and bewilderment. They didn't even need to explain for Serenity cried out, "What's that?!" She pointed to a looming ship, twice the height of their ship and three times the length.
Yugi gasped, "PIRATES!"
"WHAT!" Yami and Bakura glanced in surprise at Yugi both remembering his question to Bakura two weeks ago.
Soon the vessel was next to the small craft. It was crowded with vicious looking men. Some fired at the group of teens and others jumped down onto the deck.
"Téa," yelled Seto, "you, Serenity, and Mokuba go up to the cockpit and help Mai steer the boat! The rest of us will keep this trash off our craft!"
They spread out dodging bullets and knocking men into the sea. In the cockpit Mai continued to steer the boat. Mokuba shouting the directions over the noise of cries of pain and bangs from guns. Téa stood taking controls on the motor and Serenity took watch at the door.
"It's still right next to us!" Mai said.
"Then turn the ship! Surely a big bulky thing like that can't keep up with a small craft on sharp turns!" Téa said keeping her eyes on the gas gauge level.
"We can't do that?!" Mokuba reasoned harshly, "We'll get off course-"
Suddenly Serenity let out a cry. The others spun around to see two large, dirty pirates with knifes held in their mouths and guns in their hands shove the door open swatting Serenity away like a rag doll.
"Serenity! Oh no . . ." whispered Téa shocked.
Mai took control. "Mokuba, you hold the wheel. Téa, you and I with take on the scum."
"Right."
The men grinned and shot at them. Téa was thrown to the floor and so was Mokuba but Mai dodged it barely and attacked the one that was closest to her with a kick. Téa got up and made to punch the other guy but skillfully disarmed him of the guns. The pirate fighting Mai had thrown his guns away and caught her leg as she kicked him. This threw her off-balance and she landed hard on the floor. He took his long knife from his mouth and stabbed down. Mai rolled over just in time. Just then the pirate Téa had been fighting tripped falling on top of Mai's legs, trapping her.
"Mai!" Téa cried out as her opponent placed his knife to Mai's throat.
Taking advantage of Téa's momentary distraction the other pirate grabbed one of his guns on the floor and pointed it at her.
"Make a move an' you're dead!" he shouted.
"I couldn't have said it better myself," said a voice behind him. Suddenly Isis appeared in the doorway holding a gun pointed directly at the man's head.
"Drop your gun and let go of her," Isis said nodding to Mai. Both pirates did so not taking their eyes off her. "Now get out of here." They started toward the door but while Isis kept her gun pointed at the first pirate's head the second lunged at her knocking her to the ground. Isis rolled onto her back and kicked the man in the stomach. He groaned falling to his knees. Téa grabbed one of the pirates' forgotten guns and pointed it at him.
"I'll give you three seconds to get out of here," she said quietly. "One- two-" The pirate ran out of the room. Téa bounded forward and slammed it closed and sighed, "Three."
"Mai, are you alright?" Téa asked kneeling next to the blonde girl.
"My leg hurt like crap but what about Serenity?" she replied.
Isis was lifting Serenity up. "She'll be fine," she said.
Mokuba, who had been silent throughout the entire time, suddenly stuttered out, "Th-there's a m-major storm h-heading this way and by the l-looks of i- it, it's HUGE!"
***
Outside Joey and Tristan had their hands full. They stood on the lower deck surrounded by pirates, each armed to the tooth.
"Do you think we stand a chance, mate?" Joey asked Tristan as they took a fighting stance back-to-back.
"I don't want to be negative but I think it'll take a miracle to defeat all of these guys," he answered.
"Well, good luck. See ya, if we make it out alive," muttered Joey; and he took off, fists flying, sending kicks in all directions, head butts here and there, and maybe the odd body slam. Tristan joined in the melee with grim enthusiasm.
***
"I-I don't want to fight," whimpered Bakura staring at all the rouges approaching.
"Well you don't have a choice, now do you?" sneered Yami Bakura.
Bakura just gulped, sweat forming on his brow. Yami Bakura looked around carefully. He gave a small smile.
"It's your lucky day Bakura," he said quickly grabbing two ends of some rope and tied it around Bakura's waist. "Now when they get here I'll fight you a path to the edge of the boat and you jump in. We're in a current so you won't have to swim much."
Bakura looked at him in disbelief. "Are you INSANE!!!" he shouted out loud.
"Maybe," his Yami agreed, "Now get yourself ready."
As soon as he said that the pirates were upon them. Yami Bakura did as he said he would and Bakura, not sure what else to do, followed till they were at the rail that was keeping them from falling into the ocean. Bakura hesitated at the rail. He should've jumped immediately because when he paused a bullet shot him in the arm. He cried out falling backward into the sea.
Yami Bakura punch one guy in the stomach, knocked another out, and tripped one into the water. He turned to see if Bakura had been successful and gasped as he saw a trail of blood leading to Bakura whom was apparently unconscious. His Yami's eyes widened. Without a second's thought he jumped in and swam toward him. He reached Bakura and looked for a wound. He found it and quickly tried to bandage it up the best he could being in the ocean. Looking back he saw his trap was working. Most of the pirates were caught between two pieces of rope and as Bakura was drawn out farther more fell overboard.
They were next to the pirate ship when Yami Bakura saw the last thing he wanted to see at the moment. A gray, sleek fin appeared following the sent of blood. Yami Bakura paled and quickly looked around for an escape. A couple feet away floated an empty boat let down from the ship. Yami Bakura took a deep breath and dove under water swimming as hard as he could. He surfaced exactly next to it. Turning his head his eyes widened when he saw the fin heading straight for them at top speed. He hoisted Bakura up into the craft and pulled himself halfway out of the water.
Bakura suddenly coughed and let out a groan. He opened his eyes slowly. Suddenly they snapped open in horror.
"Yami! Look out! Behind you!" he cried.
A huge great white shark had its mouth wide open and was an inch from crunching down on both of them. Yami Bakura kicked the side of its mouth causing it to get a mouthful of water instead of flesh. He scrambled onboard. Just then he had another idea. He untied the ropes around Bakura's waist and leaned out to where the shark's single fin was sticking up. He made a loop and threw it catching it. Then out of pure luck the shark went in the exact direction they wanted it to go, out to the open sea.
Yami Bakura fell back into the boat exhausted. Just then a streak of lightning lit the sky. Both aibous looked at each other knowing what the other was thinking. They grabbed a paddle and started paddling as fast as they could toward their ship.
***
Yami and Yugi stood back to back as the pirates approached.
"Y-Yami? I d-don't think I-I can fight th-them," Yugi stuttered observing the size and hulks of the men they were about to face.
"Leave them to me Yugi. You do what you can behind my back while I take on most of them," Yami replied grimly.
Thunder crashed above them as the fighting began.
***
Malik shoved yet another one of the filthy rogues overboard as his darker half fought them off most willingly using the knife concealed in the Millennium Rod. Rain started to fall making the going slick but it turned to the teens favor as the pirates fell overboard by themselves.
***
Seto and Duke were doing the best as a team. Seto would take on the villains by hand with Duke at his back tossing his dice with deadly accuracy.
Seto had just chucked one into the raging sea when the wind picked up.
"We better finish this fast and get out of this storm's range," he shouted to Duke.
"Right," he replied throwing two more dice at their foes, "It looks like a nasty one."
***
Suddenly the guns stopped firing. The pirates raced back to their own ship leaving the teens confused and puzzled. The two Bakura`s jumped aboard the smaller boat as the villains' vessel turned away.
"What's going on?" whispered Yugi.
"I guess we should them who's boss," smirked Joey, cradling his wrist, as Tristan slowly shook his head.
"I dunno Joey."
"Something's wrong." said Seto narrowing his eyes.
Just then Mokuba's voice rang out from the where he stood at the helm. "THERE'S AN UNCHARTED ISLAND IN FRONT OF US!"
Everyone heard and turned to see a huge mountain loom over them in the pouring rain.
"ABANDON SHIP!"
There was an earsplitting crack as the little boat crashed head-long into a crop of jagged rocks. All the kids were tossed into the depths of the ocean.
*****
Sorry for the cliffhanger. I'll tell you a bit about the next chapter. A little hint of romance between Seto and Téa and new discoveries made by Yami and Isis. And finally Duke gets a little in-over his head. That really doesn't tell you too much, huh? Well review and then perhaps I'll let you read Chapter 3. ^_^ I'm so nice, aren't I?
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or Swiss Family Robinson. But I do own my Millennium Items.
Chapter Two
Pirates
"A ship? That's the reason you brought me here?" Seto asked infuriated.
"It's been following us ever since we entered the tropics this morning at four. Sometimes it goes out of range of the radar but it always comes back in the same place," Malik answered.
"Let me see this," Seto said shoving Malik out of the way. He leaned over the radar and pressed a few buttons. His frown reflected on his Millennium Tag (aka necklace). Try as he might he couldn't come up with a logical explanation.
"Who's on the next shift?" he asked not taking his eyes off the flashing dot of the ship.
"Bakura and his Yami."
"Tell them to keep an eye on this vessel. If it gets closer call me," he said and walked out to the top deck. He hosted himself up on top of the cockpit and pulled out a mini telescope. He looked in the direction of the supposed trailing ship. He spotted a rather large dot on the horizon but it was too far away to tell what it was.
He jumped off and landed on the lower deck as Téa walked out on board. There was a silence as they both looked at each other in surprise.
Finally Téa spoke up. "So did you come out here to see the sunrise too?" she asked leaning on the railing as the first rays of the sun shone out across the sea. She was wearing blue-jeans shorts, a sky blue, sleeveless top that ended just above her bellybutton, sandals, and her Millennium Bracelet.
Seto stood up from his crouched position and stared out at the waters too.
"No, Yami Malik had the nerve to wake me because they thought a ship was following us," at this particular moment Téa turned her gaze to Seto with a questioning look upon her face. Seto saw this out of the corner of his eye and added, "It's most likely a merchant ship or the Coast Guard, so I wouldn't worry about it." He too leaned on the rail.
Téa looked back at the sea.
"Are you going to tell the others about the ship?"
Seto glanced at her. "I don't see any reason to make them worry over something as insignificant as that," he answered.
Just then a dolphin leapt out of the waters, right where Seto and Téa were standing spraying both of them with salt water. Téa was so startled that she jumped back in astonishment, straight into Seto's arms. Téa hung on to him while she recovered from the shock.
"Er . . . are you okay?" Seto asked uncomfortably as he helped her regain her footing noticing the closeness of their bodies.
"Uh . . . Wha? Oh, I-I think so," Téa muttered blushing. She regained her composer and stood a little away from the rail.
Seto too was blushing. Great Scott, Seto! What're you thinking! I mean sure she's nice and pretty and sweet and . . . damn! Just focus your mind on something else, he reprimanded himself silently.
Just then the door leading to the cabin opened and Joey Wheeler stepped out. He was wearing his usual jeans and white T-shirt. On his finger his Millennium Ringu (aka ring) glinted in the morning sunlight.
He took a deep breath, "Ahh, the salty sea air." He noticed Téa and Seto watching him. "Hey guys! What's up? What're you two doing out here while the rest of us 'ave been sleepin'?" he asked looking at them each in turn.
"That is none of your business, Wheeler," Seto snapped at him and attempted to walk past him. Joey stepped in the way.
"Oh no. You ain't goin' nowhere. Let me guess. You two like each other!" Joey grinned foolishly not noticing Seto's look of astonishment mixed with rage and Téa's deep blush with a look of bewilderment. "Heeheehee! Kaiba and Téa sittin' in a tree, K-I-S - AGH!!" Joey glared at Seto from the ground clutching his head. "What did you do that for?!" he demanded.
Seto stood above him rubbing his knuckles satisfied with his punching Joey in the head. "I suggest you keep you nose out of other people's business, Wheeler, or one day you'll find yourself in over your head." He opened the door and walked into the kitchen area where Bakura was running around trying to cook breakfast and keep Tristan away from the food while his Yami walked through the kitchen getting in the way of everyone. Yugi, Yami, Duke, and Isis sat at the large kitchen table watching the haywire.
Joey looked at Téa who was still blushing.
"So you guys are going out?" he asked.
He said the wrong thing evidently because Téa suddenly swooped down on him and slapped him across the face.
"Will you knock it off?! I do NOT like Kaiba and he doesn't like me! We just happen to wake up early! Okay?!" With that she stalked off furiously. Joey stared at her amazed. Then shakily he stood up and stumbled into the kitchen.
Joey sat down next to Yugi. Yugi was wearing his usual black muscle shirt, blue slacks, and his Millennium Puzzle. He had apparently just gotten up because he kept yawning. Yami's wardrobe mirrored Yugi's as always.
"Joey, what happened to you? Did you fall on your head or something?" asked Yugi stifling a yawn as he turned to look at Joey.
"Ask Kaiba-boy and his sweetheart Téa," he grumbled angrily glaring at Seto's back. Seto was trying to help Bakura control Tristan.
Both Yugi and Yami did a double-take at Joey along with a passing Yami Bakura as Duke and Isis turned to stared wide-eyed in amazement.
"Kaiba . . ." whispered Duke startled.
". . . and Téa?!" Yami Bakura finished not noticing Tristan bumping into him to escape Seto's and Bakura's clutches.
"Is, um . . . that why you look a mess?" Yugi asked attentively.
Joey glanced at him defensively. "I swear didn't catch them doing anything 'cept standing together! An' when I asked what they were doing Kaiba got all mad and ended up punching me then I asked Téa if they were going out, she yelled at me an' slapped me."
Yami Bakura snickered. He was wearing, like Bakura, blue-jeans, a green T- shirt, and the Millennium Ring.
"Sounds like they've got a little secret of theirs," he said, looking as though Christmas had come early.
Duke rolled his eyes. He wore his dark blue muscle shirt, black slacks, a bluish purple vest, and his Millennium Kasa (aka headband). Isis sitting next to him stifled a giggle. She was wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt with a white long-sleeve shirt underneath, khaki capris, her usual jewelry, and her Millennium Necklace.
"HEY! WATCH OUT! THAT'S THE PANCAKES!" Bakura cried as Tristan tripped and started to fall onto the breakfast he had prepared. Seto reached out and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, just an inch away from the pancakes. Bakura fainted straight into the arms of Mai and Serenity whom had just both come up the steps from the dorms. Mai wore a strapless, white shirt that showed her stomach, her light purple vest with gold trimming; short shorts that were very light purple, and her Millennium Kubiwa (aka choker). Serenity was dressed in a blue tank top with a white, unbuttoned blouse covering it, white shorts, a blue scarf in her hair, and her Millennium Udewa (aka ankle bracelet).
"Uh . . . what's been going on here?" Mai asked looking down at Bakura and then at Seto holding Tristan in a vice grip and finally at a miserable Joey surrounded by Yugi, Yami, Duke, Isis, and Yami Bakura.
"Oh, hi Serenity! How's it going?" Tristan asked ignoring Mai. Seto gave him a resounding cuff on the head. "Ow!" Tristan was dressed in a plain white shirt, black jeans, and his Millennium Chain hanging around his waist.
Bakura woke-up though he still seemed at the end of his wits. He was set between Mai and Serenity; Serenity was sitting next to her brother. Next to Mai was Yami Bakura who was just as disgusted at the seating arrangements as her if not more. Tristan was forced to sit with Yami Bakura and Yami Malik which, as you can imagine, was a nightmare to him. Malik sat on his Yami's left with Seto and Mokuba followed by Téa. And finally Duke, Isis, Yami, and Yugi were seated together.
The food was great, but the mood needed a little adjustment. Joey kept shooting Seto and Téa warning glances while they both avoided each other's eye. Tristan sat cowering between the two Yami`s and Mai scooted as close to Bakura as she dared to keep away from his Yami. Malik kept looking up worriedly at Seto. Yugi and Serenity tried to strike up a conversation with Joey but failed. Duke talked with Isis and Yami but in the silence of the others the conversation didn't last long. So in all everyone's breakfast was a solemn one and, in some cases, a miserable one.
The day progressed the same way. Eventually Yami, Yugi, Duke, Mai, Tristan, Serenity, Isis, and Mokuba retreated to a secluded part of the ship where they could avoid any conflicts that arose. Lunch and dinner were pretty much silent. Everyone retired to their beds with their own individual thoughts about the day.
***
Téa and Mai were on duty that night. Mai held the wheel while Téa stared bored at the empty blackness in front of them. Around eleven they heard the pitter-patter of rain hitting the window.
"Looks like we're in for a storm tonight," Mai remarked.
Téa studied the weather meter. "It doesn't look too bad so far. I'll keep an eye on it."
Around twelve it had calmed down but according to the meter more was soon to come.
"I hate night duty," Mai complained. "Why didn't we just hire a captain?"
Téa wasn't listening. She was staring at the radar intently.
"I mean this is suppose to be a cruise to the Bahamas," Mai continued, "not a trip that you have to do everything yourself!"
Téa stood up and without a word ran outside. She could hear thunder in the distance but she ignored it. She stared out intensely behind the wake of the ship.
"Téa? What're you doing?" Mai called out to her.
Téa answered, "I'll be right back." And she jumped off the side to the lower deck. She wavered a little from the force then darted to the cabin. Téa went over to the sleeping form of Seto Kaiba and shook him awake.
He grunted then slowly opened his eyes.
"Wha . . . Téa?! What're you . . . What's . . . Is something wrong?" he finally managed to ask.
Téa leaned down to whisper in his ear so not to wake the others, "The ship that's been tailing us is speeding up. In fact, it's in sight and . . ." she trailed off.
Seto looked at her curiously, "And what?"
Téa's eyes filled with worry. "I.I once saw a picture of a pirate ship in the newspaper and.and it looks similar, with weapons and, and." she shuddered.
Seto cocked an eyebrow at her but he could tell she was genuinely worried. He sighed and got out of his bed. He was still dressed in his clothes for on a ship it was possible that dangerous things could happen at any moment. Like Mai driving the ship into a whirlpool was very possible in his mind along with Joey wrecking the ship. He followed Téa out silently.
As soon as they arrived in the cockpit the transmitter yelled out to the entire ship (in English which the three of them knew well enough): "This is Skull Four. I repeat, Skull Four. We have come to take over your ship. Surrender and you will not be harmed."
Mai jumped about a foot off the ground yet somehow managed to keep the ship on course. Téa stood by the door terrified. Seto grabbed the microphone that was attached to the transmitter.
"Who is this?!" he demanded angrily
"This is the Skull Four. Surrender and you will not be harmed."
"Harmed! What's the meaning of this?!" Seto asked.
"I repeat surrender and you will not be harmed!" came the harsh reply.
Seto started to lose his patience. "What's this rubbish about surrendering?!"
There was static then in the background some voices. Finally a new voice spoke up, "Listen up kid, surrender or we're going to fire at you."
"FIRE AT US!" Mai shrieked. "Give me that!" she demanded grabbing the microphone.
"What on earth did we do to you?!" she yelled. "And who are you to be giving orders to us? If you don't give me an answer I'm going to be the one firing at YOU!"
The voice laughed, "Well missy, you didn't do anything except help us in certain ways."
Téa walked over to Mai. "Are you.pirates?" she asked timidly.
There was a pause, then, "Yes, I guess you can say that. Now I want your answer! Will you or will you not surrender? I suggest the first if you know what's good for you."
"Sorry to break it to you but I never surrender to anyone, especially to scum like you!" Seto growled.
"We aren't going down without a fight!" Mai said.
"The only thing is," Téa's voice hardened, "we aren't going down at all!"
"Very well then," came the reply.
An explosion sounded from outside. The force tossed them across the room. Mai managed to regain control of the wheel fortunately. Téa and Seto had ended in a crumbled heap. Seto scrambled up and helped Téa to her feet.
"Mai, you stay here and try to keep the ship on course. Téa, you and I will go down and wake the rest, not like they aren't already awake by now," Seto said.
It turned out that Téa and Seto didn't have to even open the cabin door for their comrades came stumbling out, wide-eyed with shock and bewilderment. They didn't even need to explain for Serenity cried out, "What's that?!" She pointed to a looming ship, twice the height of their ship and three times the length.
Yugi gasped, "PIRATES!"
"WHAT!" Yami and Bakura glanced in surprise at Yugi both remembering his question to Bakura two weeks ago.
Soon the vessel was next to the small craft. It was crowded with vicious looking men. Some fired at the group of teens and others jumped down onto the deck.
"Téa," yelled Seto, "you, Serenity, and Mokuba go up to the cockpit and help Mai steer the boat! The rest of us will keep this trash off our craft!"
They spread out dodging bullets and knocking men into the sea. In the cockpit Mai continued to steer the boat. Mokuba shouting the directions over the noise of cries of pain and bangs from guns. Téa stood taking controls on the motor and Serenity took watch at the door.
"It's still right next to us!" Mai said.
"Then turn the ship! Surely a big bulky thing like that can't keep up with a small craft on sharp turns!" Téa said keeping her eyes on the gas gauge level.
"We can't do that?!" Mokuba reasoned harshly, "We'll get off course-"
Suddenly Serenity let out a cry. The others spun around to see two large, dirty pirates with knifes held in their mouths and guns in their hands shove the door open swatting Serenity away like a rag doll.
"Serenity! Oh no . . ." whispered Téa shocked.
Mai took control. "Mokuba, you hold the wheel. Téa, you and I with take on the scum."
"Right."
The men grinned and shot at them. Téa was thrown to the floor and so was Mokuba but Mai dodged it barely and attacked the one that was closest to her with a kick. Téa got up and made to punch the other guy but skillfully disarmed him of the guns. The pirate fighting Mai had thrown his guns away and caught her leg as she kicked him. This threw her off-balance and she landed hard on the floor. He took his long knife from his mouth and stabbed down. Mai rolled over just in time. Just then the pirate Téa had been fighting tripped falling on top of Mai's legs, trapping her.
"Mai!" Téa cried out as her opponent placed his knife to Mai's throat.
Taking advantage of Téa's momentary distraction the other pirate grabbed one of his guns on the floor and pointed it at her.
"Make a move an' you're dead!" he shouted.
"I couldn't have said it better myself," said a voice behind him. Suddenly Isis appeared in the doorway holding a gun pointed directly at the man's head.
"Drop your gun and let go of her," Isis said nodding to Mai. Both pirates did so not taking their eyes off her. "Now get out of here." They started toward the door but while Isis kept her gun pointed at the first pirate's head the second lunged at her knocking her to the ground. Isis rolled onto her back and kicked the man in the stomach. He groaned falling to his knees. Téa grabbed one of the pirates' forgotten guns and pointed it at him.
"I'll give you three seconds to get out of here," she said quietly. "One- two-" The pirate ran out of the room. Téa bounded forward and slammed it closed and sighed, "Three."
"Mai, are you alright?" Téa asked kneeling next to the blonde girl.
"My leg hurt like crap but what about Serenity?" she replied.
Isis was lifting Serenity up. "She'll be fine," she said.
Mokuba, who had been silent throughout the entire time, suddenly stuttered out, "Th-there's a m-major storm h-heading this way and by the l-looks of i- it, it's HUGE!"
***
Outside Joey and Tristan had their hands full. They stood on the lower deck surrounded by pirates, each armed to the tooth.
"Do you think we stand a chance, mate?" Joey asked Tristan as they took a fighting stance back-to-back.
"I don't want to be negative but I think it'll take a miracle to defeat all of these guys," he answered.
"Well, good luck. See ya, if we make it out alive," muttered Joey; and he took off, fists flying, sending kicks in all directions, head butts here and there, and maybe the odd body slam. Tristan joined in the melee with grim enthusiasm.
***
"I-I don't want to fight," whimpered Bakura staring at all the rouges approaching.
"Well you don't have a choice, now do you?" sneered Yami Bakura.
Bakura just gulped, sweat forming on his brow. Yami Bakura looked around carefully. He gave a small smile.
"It's your lucky day Bakura," he said quickly grabbing two ends of some rope and tied it around Bakura's waist. "Now when they get here I'll fight you a path to the edge of the boat and you jump in. We're in a current so you won't have to swim much."
Bakura looked at him in disbelief. "Are you INSANE!!!" he shouted out loud.
"Maybe," his Yami agreed, "Now get yourself ready."
As soon as he said that the pirates were upon them. Yami Bakura did as he said he would and Bakura, not sure what else to do, followed till they were at the rail that was keeping them from falling into the ocean. Bakura hesitated at the rail. He should've jumped immediately because when he paused a bullet shot him in the arm. He cried out falling backward into the sea.
Yami Bakura punch one guy in the stomach, knocked another out, and tripped one into the water. He turned to see if Bakura had been successful and gasped as he saw a trail of blood leading to Bakura whom was apparently unconscious. His Yami's eyes widened. Without a second's thought he jumped in and swam toward him. He reached Bakura and looked for a wound. He found it and quickly tried to bandage it up the best he could being in the ocean. Looking back he saw his trap was working. Most of the pirates were caught between two pieces of rope and as Bakura was drawn out farther more fell overboard.
They were next to the pirate ship when Yami Bakura saw the last thing he wanted to see at the moment. A gray, sleek fin appeared following the sent of blood. Yami Bakura paled and quickly looked around for an escape. A couple feet away floated an empty boat let down from the ship. Yami Bakura took a deep breath and dove under water swimming as hard as he could. He surfaced exactly next to it. Turning his head his eyes widened when he saw the fin heading straight for them at top speed. He hoisted Bakura up into the craft and pulled himself halfway out of the water.
Bakura suddenly coughed and let out a groan. He opened his eyes slowly. Suddenly they snapped open in horror.
"Yami! Look out! Behind you!" he cried.
A huge great white shark had its mouth wide open and was an inch from crunching down on both of them. Yami Bakura kicked the side of its mouth causing it to get a mouthful of water instead of flesh. He scrambled onboard. Just then he had another idea. He untied the ropes around Bakura's waist and leaned out to where the shark's single fin was sticking up. He made a loop and threw it catching it. Then out of pure luck the shark went in the exact direction they wanted it to go, out to the open sea.
Yami Bakura fell back into the boat exhausted. Just then a streak of lightning lit the sky. Both aibous looked at each other knowing what the other was thinking. They grabbed a paddle and started paddling as fast as they could toward their ship.
***
Yami and Yugi stood back to back as the pirates approached.
"Y-Yami? I d-don't think I-I can fight th-them," Yugi stuttered observing the size and hulks of the men they were about to face.
"Leave them to me Yugi. You do what you can behind my back while I take on most of them," Yami replied grimly.
Thunder crashed above them as the fighting began.
***
Malik shoved yet another one of the filthy rogues overboard as his darker half fought them off most willingly using the knife concealed in the Millennium Rod. Rain started to fall making the going slick but it turned to the teens favor as the pirates fell overboard by themselves.
***
Seto and Duke were doing the best as a team. Seto would take on the villains by hand with Duke at his back tossing his dice with deadly accuracy.
Seto had just chucked one into the raging sea when the wind picked up.
"We better finish this fast and get out of this storm's range," he shouted to Duke.
"Right," he replied throwing two more dice at their foes, "It looks like a nasty one."
***
Suddenly the guns stopped firing. The pirates raced back to their own ship leaving the teens confused and puzzled. The two Bakura`s jumped aboard the smaller boat as the villains' vessel turned away.
"What's going on?" whispered Yugi.
"I guess we should them who's boss," smirked Joey, cradling his wrist, as Tristan slowly shook his head.
"I dunno Joey."
"Something's wrong." said Seto narrowing his eyes.
Just then Mokuba's voice rang out from the where he stood at the helm. "THERE'S AN UNCHARTED ISLAND IN FRONT OF US!"
Everyone heard and turned to see a huge mountain loom over them in the pouring rain.
"ABANDON SHIP!"
There was an earsplitting crack as the little boat crashed head-long into a crop of jagged rocks. All the kids were tossed into the depths of the ocean.
*****
Sorry for the cliffhanger. I'll tell you a bit about the next chapter. A little hint of romance between Seto and Téa and new discoveries made by Yami and Isis. And finally Duke gets a little in-over his head. That really doesn't tell you too much, huh? Well review and then perhaps I'll let you read Chapter 3. ^_^ I'm so nice, aren't I?