Chapter 2: Hey, Mr. Jack
"Here, Mr. Jack!" Kenshin tossed Captain Jack Sparrow the shorter of the two blades he always carries around. Captain Jack Sparrow caught it and cut his hair.
"Such a shame, Kenny-boy. It took me so long to grow such locks!" With a -swish- Jack Sparrow's hair was halved. Kenshin did the same. The hair that use to be passed his shoulders is now barely ear's length. For the next couple of hours, the two men gathered wood and cut them to raft units. When that wasn't enough, they gathered more wood. Both men knew they're in a predicament: they are out of adhesive. Just-pass-shoulder-length hair can only go so far. However, neither said anything until there is enough wood for both a complete raft and a blazing bonfire.
"Our shirts will have to go."
Captain Jack Sparrow looked up with a start. "You are straight right?"
"What?" asked a puzzled Kenshin.
"What gets the soldier to salute?"
"I don't follow."
"You know, down there?" Captain Jack Sparrow tentatively held up a pointer and then reluctantly pointed at Kenshin's crotch. "What gets you up?"
Then, Kenshin registered. "I was married, Mr. Jack. If you have better ideas than the sexual preferences of another man, I'm open to such options."
Captain Jack Sparrow raised his arms up as if in surrender. "Lighten up mate. Just making jest."
Kenshin grunted in response and took off his shirt. He cut into thinner strips and make quite a lengthy piece of rope from it in a few moments. He spared one last shred. All the while, Captain Jack Sparrow looked on seemingly clueless but deep down, he respected, almost revered the kid's resourcefulness. Kenshin took a rock about double the size of his fist. He raised his sword and struck it, creating a few sparks. He did it time and time again, until the shred of clothing caught fire.
"Matey, we can be halfway around the world before you light that." With that, he poured whiskey on the almost dying flame. The fire leapt up vigorously and grew. Just before burning Kenshin's hand, he let it fall to the gathering of wood. Captain Jack Sparrow poured more whisky on the firewood and suddenly, a fire wasn't that hard to come by on a deserted island.
"Where did you get that?" Kenshin asked, still very much emotionless. "Interested, huh?" Jack Sparrow said with a grin that showed blackened teeth. "This island had a hidden stash of rum. Found their pantry while looking for wood. Other pirates bootleg apparently. Don't think they'll notice a missing bottle or three!" With that, he held up two bottle of Jack Daniel's. "Like?"
"No. But I'd want my secondary blade back."
Captain Jack Sparrow grinned devilishly. "Drink and get your blade back! No drink, no blade."
Kenshin's eyes narrowed. His left hand went to his katana.
"Wouldn't do that." Captain Jack Sparrow had a six shooter drawn already. "Now...please lighten up. The sun is setting, there is a fire roaring and I have bottle with your name on it. Enjoy the circumstances, mate."
Kenshin didn't like being constantly restrained by threats of a bullet. However, it's stupid to test speeds with a bullet. Not given much of a choice, the legendary assassin loosened up and took his hand off his katana.
"That's m'man. Let the other ole Jack talk to you." He popped the cork and handed Kenshin the open bottle of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. Kenshin laid on the beach next to the fire. It was just then that he realized how tired and wired up he was. First, struggling to survive. Then confronting the pirate stranger. The building a second raft. Not to mention losing his hair. And that secondary blade, which he'll get back...some other time. Deciding not to simmer and broil in such thoughts, Kenshin took a daintily took a sip of the hard liquor. He winced at the strong flavor and felt it cover his mouth like a film. Like acid, it burned all the way going down. "What is this stuff!? It tastes nothing like sake!"
"What are ya, a bloody mama's boy? DRINK UP!" Captain Jack Sparrow took a long swig. After swallowing the vile liquid, he gave a belch and said "AH! THAT'S THE STUFF!" and laughed to himself. "Your go, MATE!" Kenshin took a longer sip than usual. Suprisingly, it isn't so bad the second time around! He took a third try and this time, he drank up.
"THAT'S MY MAN! CHEERS!" He held up his bottle of Jack Daniel's. Kenshin did so likewise. "To the island!" Kenshin felt spirits already and grinned idiotically. "To the island!" The glass bottles clanged and they both took gulps.
Kenshin expected to be down and out in moments, this stuff tastes so strong! Not so. The flavor can definitely use improvement but alcohol-wise, it's not much different than sake. For once, Kenshin came prepared. As Captain Jack Sparrow snored away with an empty bottle of Jack's in his left hand, Kenshin was up and very much sober except for the urge to laugh every once in a while. He decided to finish the raft. To do that, he needs more fabric. "Hey, Mr. Jack?" Kenshin said. Not a stir. Kenshin said. Not a stir. "Okay, don't say I never tried waking you." Kenshin said with a grin. He began to unbutton Captain Jack Sparrow's shirt...
The next morning...
"WHY ARE MY SHIRTS GONE!?" bellowed an angry but more so, a confused and hung over Jack Sparrow.
"Oh, good morning Mr. Jack. The raft is ready sir." Kenshin answered, pretending he never heard the outburst.
"Why are my shirts gone!?" Captain Jack Sparrow asked again.
"I asked you last night. You were willing to give them up." Kenshin lied between his teeth. "Besides, your shirts are put to better use anyway."
"But why are my shirts gone?" he still futilely questioned.
"It's boarding time." Kenshin said smugly. He drew his sword and cut the rope holding it on shore. "Attention boarders, this is the last departure...EVER. So if you need to get on, get on now!" With that, Kenshin looked on to the horizon, back turned to the island and rowed with his sheathed sword.
"Here, Mr. Jack!" Kenshin tossed Captain Jack Sparrow the shorter of the two blades he always carries around. Captain Jack Sparrow caught it and cut his hair.
"Such a shame, Kenny-boy. It took me so long to grow such locks!" With a -swish- Jack Sparrow's hair was halved. Kenshin did the same. The hair that use to be passed his shoulders is now barely ear's length. For the next couple of hours, the two men gathered wood and cut them to raft units. When that wasn't enough, they gathered more wood. Both men knew they're in a predicament: they are out of adhesive. Just-pass-shoulder-length hair can only go so far. However, neither said anything until there is enough wood for both a complete raft and a blazing bonfire.
"Our shirts will have to go."
Captain Jack Sparrow looked up with a start. "You are straight right?"
"What?" asked a puzzled Kenshin.
"What gets the soldier to salute?"
"I don't follow."
"You know, down there?" Captain Jack Sparrow tentatively held up a pointer and then reluctantly pointed at Kenshin's crotch. "What gets you up?"
Then, Kenshin registered. "I was married, Mr. Jack. If you have better ideas than the sexual preferences of another man, I'm open to such options."
Captain Jack Sparrow raised his arms up as if in surrender. "Lighten up mate. Just making jest."
Kenshin grunted in response and took off his shirt. He cut into thinner strips and make quite a lengthy piece of rope from it in a few moments. He spared one last shred. All the while, Captain Jack Sparrow looked on seemingly clueless but deep down, he respected, almost revered the kid's resourcefulness. Kenshin took a rock about double the size of his fist. He raised his sword and struck it, creating a few sparks. He did it time and time again, until the shred of clothing caught fire.
"Matey, we can be halfway around the world before you light that." With that, he poured whiskey on the almost dying flame. The fire leapt up vigorously and grew. Just before burning Kenshin's hand, he let it fall to the gathering of wood. Captain Jack Sparrow poured more whisky on the firewood and suddenly, a fire wasn't that hard to come by on a deserted island.
"Where did you get that?" Kenshin asked, still very much emotionless. "Interested, huh?" Jack Sparrow said with a grin that showed blackened teeth. "This island had a hidden stash of rum. Found their pantry while looking for wood. Other pirates bootleg apparently. Don't think they'll notice a missing bottle or three!" With that, he held up two bottle of Jack Daniel's. "Like?"
"No. But I'd want my secondary blade back."
Captain Jack Sparrow grinned devilishly. "Drink and get your blade back! No drink, no blade."
Kenshin's eyes narrowed. His left hand went to his katana.
"Wouldn't do that." Captain Jack Sparrow had a six shooter drawn already. "Now...please lighten up. The sun is setting, there is a fire roaring and I have bottle with your name on it. Enjoy the circumstances, mate."
Kenshin didn't like being constantly restrained by threats of a bullet. However, it's stupid to test speeds with a bullet. Not given much of a choice, the legendary assassin loosened up and took his hand off his katana.
"That's m'man. Let the other ole Jack talk to you." He popped the cork and handed Kenshin the open bottle of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. Kenshin laid on the beach next to the fire. It was just then that he realized how tired and wired up he was. First, struggling to survive. Then confronting the pirate stranger. The building a second raft. Not to mention losing his hair. And that secondary blade, which he'll get back...some other time. Deciding not to simmer and broil in such thoughts, Kenshin took a daintily took a sip of the hard liquor. He winced at the strong flavor and felt it cover his mouth like a film. Like acid, it burned all the way going down. "What is this stuff!? It tastes nothing like sake!"
"What are ya, a bloody mama's boy? DRINK UP!" Captain Jack Sparrow took a long swig. After swallowing the vile liquid, he gave a belch and said "AH! THAT'S THE STUFF!" and laughed to himself. "Your go, MATE!" Kenshin took a longer sip than usual. Suprisingly, it isn't so bad the second time around! He took a third try and this time, he drank up.
"THAT'S MY MAN! CHEERS!" He held up his bottle of Jack Daniel's. Kenshin did so likewise. "To the island!" Kenshin felt spirits already and grinned idiotically. "To the island!" The glass bottles clanged and they both took gulps.
Kenshin expected to be down and out in moments, this stuff tastes so strong! Not so. The flavor can definitely use improvement but alcohol-wise, it's not much different than sake. For once, Kenshin came prepared. As Captain Jack Sparrow snored away with an empty bottle of Jack's in his left hand, Kenshin was up and very much sober except for the urge to laugh every once in a while. He decided to finish the raft. To do that, he needs more fabric. "Hey, Mr. Jack?" Kenshin said. Not a stir. Kenshin said. Not a stir. "Okay, don't say I never tried waking you." Kenshin said with a grin. He began to unbutton Captain Jack Sparrow's shirt...
The next morning...
"WHY ARE MY SHIRTS GONE!?" bellowed an angry but more so, a confused and hung over Jack Sparrow.
"Oh, good morning Mr. Jack. The raft is ready sir." Kenshin answered, pretending he never heard the outburst.
"Why are my shirts gone!?" Captain Jack Sparrow asked again.
"I asked you last night. You were willing to give them up." Kenshin lied between his teeth. "Besides, your shirts are put to better use anyway."
"But why are my shirts gone?" he still futilely questioned.
"It's boarding time." Kenshin said smugly. He drew his sword and cut the rope holding it on shore. "Attention boarders, this is the last departure...EVER. So if you need to get on, get on now!" With that, Kenshin looked on to the horizon, back turned to the island and rowed with his sheathed sword.