I am so happy! We got to watch the first part of "Pirates of the Caribbean" in school the other day! I LOVE THAT MOVIE!!! Sorry it's kind of short. It's really more of an explanatory chappy. The next chapter will kick of the real story line. Anyway...ON WITH THE FIC!!!
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The room slowly came into focus as Hiei blinked his eyes. He sat up slowly, trying to remember what had happened. Looking around, he found himself in a cell, and the memories of the past few days came flooding back. Cursing himself for being so weak, he stood and cursed himself again for the shaking legs that barley held beneath him.

"You probably shouldn't be standing just yet," a somewhat familiar voice said from the demon pirate's left. Turning, Hiei saw the green eyed, red headed general who had captured him sitting comfortably on a chair, watching him from the other side of the bars.

"Hn," was Hiei's only response as he forced himself to remain standing, trying unsuccessfully to stop the shaking in his legs.

"You should at least eat something," Kurama said, noting the small pirate's stubbornness. Now Hiei noticed an appetizing smell in the air and turned to find a table loaded down with meat and bread as well as fruit and soup. He walked slowly to it, as though he had no interest in it, and picked up a bun. He took small bites of it, as if he wasn't really hungry but only eating to please Kurama, all the while never taking his crimson eyes off the watchful general.

Kurama sighed and shook his head, seeing that the captain before him would never give in to his hunger and eat properly while he was watching, and decided to continue his interrogation.

"What happened to your crew?" Kurama asked.

"They were killed," Hiei answered simply, taking another bite of his bun.

"Yes, but how were they killed?" Kurama asked, slightly annoyed. He had all the time in the world to play whatever games the pirate wished, but he feared his captive might pass out again if he didn't start to eat more then the small bun in his hand, and Kurama knew the chances of Hiei doing that with him watching were slim.

"They were killed by pirates," Hiei replied, finishing his bun and picking up an apple.

"Who specifically?" Kurama asked again as Hiei took a loud, juicy bite of the apple.

"You know them," Hiei said, as if the answer was absurdly obvious.

"I do?" Kurama cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly, trying to think of the various names of the pirates he knew of.

"You should, they're quite famous," Hiei said absently, his mouth full of apple as he reached one hand for a turkey leg. Apparently, despite his best efforts, hunger was beginning to get the better of him.

"You can't give me a hint?" Kurama asked after a moment, smiling slightly at the captive captain.

Hiei was too concerned with eating to keep up their game now. He abandoned his riddles and teasing, sat down at the table, and simply said "It was the Dark Fleet." Surprised, Kurama allowed a gasp to escape his lips.

'The Dark Fleet? Can he be telling the truth?' Kurama wondered as he stared at Hiei, who ignored the red head and continued eating. The Dark Fleet was a well known group of pirates. Their group consisted of three ships: The Dark Beasts, The Dark Brothers, and The Dark Angel. The whole fleet was under the control of General Sakyo, a pirate who was known for his treasure, his cunning, and his ruthlessness to get anything he wanted. No one, not even other pirates, dared to stand up to the Dark Fleet, the very mention of the name struck fear in the hearts of all, pirate or not.

"Are you certain it was the Dark Fleet?" Kurama asked.

Hiei nodded, swallowing a mouthful of bread. "I swear on the Pirate's Code it was them."

Kurama was silent for a moment, but then a thought popped into his mind and he asked, "How did you come across the Dark Fleet?" Hiei stared at him for a full minute before pushing back his plate and sighing.

"We had news that the fleet was going to pillage a town in the northern shores and were sailing to intercept them," he said, not emotion in his voice whatsoever.

"What was your motive for that?" Kurama asked. He had never heard of anyone purposely 'picking a fight' with the Dark Fleet before.

"What business is it of yours?" Hiei asked sharply, glaring at Kurama with renewed vigor, his strength restored form having eaten.

"I simply wish to know your motives," Kurama answered.

"Hn," Hiei snorted in response, grabbing a second apple from the table.

"Was it for revenge?" Kurama asked after a moment of silence, broken only by the sounds of Hiei eating his apple.

"I said before, it is not your business," Hiei mumbled, not even bothering to swallow before talking. "Besides," Hiei added as he took another bite, "who would I have to avenge?"

"You mean to say there is no one you care for enough to avenge?" Kurama asked, somewhat amazed. Hiei gave him a fleeting glance with his crimson eyes that clearly answered 'Yes.'

"What a lonely existence that must be," Kurama said simply, allowing a tinge of pity to seep into his words. Hiei only gave him a warning glare.

"Only the weak and the stupid allow themselves to care for anyone other then themselves. The Pirate's Code itself states that any man who falls behind, is left behind," Hiei answered, throwing the core of his finished apple aside.

"On the contrary," Kurama replied, the face of an older, gentle woman who he had come to know and love as family flashing through his mind, "one's feeling towards others may often aid them in battle, elevating their need to win and allowing them a clean victory."

"Hn," was Hiei's doubtful reply. Kurama sighed and let the subject drop. There was silence for several minutes, but as Kurama's thoughts drifted back to the Dark Fleet, he had a horrible realization.

"Hiei," he said, some urgency in his voice.

"That's Captain Hiei," the pirate replied, taking a third apple from the table.

"Fine, Captain Hiei. Your men, did they take any treasure form the Dark Fleet?" Kurama asked, holding his breath for the answer. If they had, and that treasure was now at the bottom of the town's harbor with Hiei's boat, there was no doubt in Kurama's mind that Sakyo would come to retrieve it. Hiei was silent as he thought, obviously unaware or else not caring that the Dark Fleet may be drawing closer as they spoke.

"I believe there was a chest at the stern of my boat," Hiei said slowly, closing his eyes as he tried to remember. "Yes," he said more confidently after a moment. "I remember the stern sank first because of the extra weight."

"And that chest was still on your ship when it sank in our harbor?" Kurama asked.

Hiei nodded and bit into his apple. Kurama's eyes widened and he stared for a moment in shock. Then he turned and sprinted up the stairs, praying that this new information wasn't too late to make a difference.