Indents still don't work --; sorry!! I hate internet explorer! ; But anyway this is a really romantic chapter in my point of view.. very K&K. :3 I'm very proud of this chapter. Please review!!
-Ditox-chan

"A homeless orphan... His own son in denial of his father... An entire crew following him... Rogues and orphans seeking homes they never had. Police chase him day by day, hundreds of people hate him for taking their children and friends away."

Kaoru lay awake that night, one palm placed on her forehead limply as she stared blankly up at the ceiling. It was early morning but she had not slept a wink that night – the ship's legacy was too great for her to comprehend. She had spent the night wondering about the captain's position but had not concluded anything. She just did not understand. She had tried for hours on end to understand how the ship – and especially its peaceful owner – had earned such a distasteful position.

"But he's so loving and kind... Could they hate him for being slightly different? The wings, the tail... Why was he selected for such an unruly project like mutation? Why didn't his parents come to his rescue? ...Or ...was he alone all the time...? Kenji dislikes him but takes pride in being his son because he can boss some of the crew around. Kenshin is obviously pressured by this position with his son... He doesn't want to explain how he acquired his son...Kenji bears too much a resemblance to Himura to be adopted. Does Kenji even know about where he came from? Does he know his own mother...?"

She widened her eyes when she heard a loud crack – the sound of a gun. She ignored it at first, thinking her imagination was claiming her mind again, but worry overcame her. She tried her best to think it was illusory, but three more cracks erupted after just a few moments and she began to fidget with concern.

"Everyone! On deck, NOW!" Kenshin's voice rang through the walls harshly. Kaoru sat up immediately and brushed the locks from her eyes, glancing curiously at the small, circular window on the wall. It was still very early in the morning hours and was still dark outside. She dressed in a rush and replaced her ponytail as she rushed out the cabin onto the deck, (she had been sleeping alone in the wide storage room) still wiping the weariness from her eyes. Kenshin stood by the pole, his tail frizzled and twitching madly. He appeared very exhausted, leaning against a pole for support with one wing hanging very limply, unable to send enough strength to hold it up. Kaoru felt a swell of pity, glaring at the crew that had circled around him as he spoke in a low tone.

"...And they're showing no mercy. I don't know if we'll be able to hold them off this time because they came at this hour. But do the best you can to keep them from taking anyone down. And for my own sake, be careful!" Kenshin's voice was very weak and his once glimmering violet eyes were dim and weary, almost emotionless. Kaoru was shocked at the sight of his weakness, yet he was still confident enough to command his group. But what could be going on that was so frustrating to the distressed captain?

The crew began to rush to the storage room, flooding in and out with weapons and swarming to different areas of the boat. Guns shots everywhere – Kaoru was struck with fright, whimpering as she backed up against the wall and observed with panic. She looked up sorrowfully to see Kenshin hobbling towards her, face hidden by his long auburn bangs. She straightened slightly, attempting to mask the unyielding fear abounding her mind. He leaned his shoulder against the door beside her and breathed hard, desperately gasping for air. His wing still hung limply. His tail dragged along the floor, now spiritless. His face still hidden, he gasped softly, "The ship's being attacked... Please get yourself to a sanctuary inside fast, Miss Kaoru..."

Kaoru raised her hands over her mouth as her attention swerved to his spiritless ivory wing. The other stood as it normally would, but she couldn't help but wonder what handicapped the second. Then she spotted it – crimson splotches in ivory feathers – slowly growing larger and dripping from the beautiful wing. Kenshin had been shot. He was almost powerless in so much pain, but it was sheer luck that they had missed his heart. She presumed that he had used his wing to protect himself from the bullet but suffered just as much. Kaoru reached out to the wound but Kenshin stubbornly shifted his wing away from her in a very powerful fashion and gritted his teeth, slumping harder against the wooden door.

Kaoru shook her head. "No, Kenshin... You should be resting, not me..." She clenched her own teeth and held back sobs – why was she crying? Was this little wound such a big deal to her heart? She reached out to his shoulders – meekly surprised that he did not resist besides a small groan of pain when she pulled him from the door. His body slumped against her fully – she used all her strength to hold him up, pausing a moment to smile before taking one of his arms and putting it around her shoulders and walking him into the small storage room where she slept. She knew he would dislike her bringing him to his own quarters because he did not allow anyone but Kenji in there. She quietly laid him out of the floor, resting her own pillow behind his head. She outstretched his first wing quietly and he made no reaction, but when she laid her palms on the wounded one he began to fidget and moan, gritting his teeth and weakly trying to raise an arm to stop her.

She looked at his face sorrowfully. The painful, heartbreaking expression forced the pitiful tears from her eyes, as much as she tried to hide them. Just for a brief moment, his eyes opened only a little – it was obvious that his pain had blinded him, but he stared at her dimly. A hand slowly raised at her as he mumbled, "Please... don't..." He paused to breathe softly a moment.

"Don't... cry..." His eyes closed again and his hand went limp, landing in her lap. His breathing slowed, finally at peace as he rested unconsciously while Kaoru gaped at his hand. In his own moment of horror, his focus was on her. He did not wish to be worried over – just for her safety and happiness. She couldn't hamper back the tears for this wonderful, selfless man with a past as cold as ice but a heart pure as gold.

Kaoru hummed to herself to keep her nerves calm. The eruption of guns outside was shaking her up, but she tried to focus on her thoughts instead of the danger. She found a medicine kit in the storage room and had tended to Kenshin's wound. He was completely silent and his breathing had returned to its normal rate. But his eyes were hidden by his bangs and Kaoru could not determine if he was awake again or still slumbering. She kneeled beside him and closed her eyes, trying to focus on her thoughts.

"Miss Kaoru," Kenshin whispered weakly. Kaoru's eyes shot open and she leaned forward on her hands, and nodded him on, alarmed. He was motionless, but continuing speaking softly. "Please... Kenji... Is he safe...?" Kaoru paused to think over his question and shook her head, gritting her teeth and scolding herself for forgetting the child. Kenshin would hate her if the boy were wounded. She quickly stood up and headed out the door, closing it behind her and glancing around. It was still busy on deck as the sun slowly began to rise. She found Kenji trying to operate a gun, sitting on the floor safely protected by a wall on the highest floor of the boat.

"Kenji," she gasped. "Thank goodness you're alright. Your father..."

Kenji looked up at her curiously and tossed the gun to the side. "What about him?"

"They've shot him in one of his wings. I've already taken care of it and now he is resting inside the storage room, but-"a sudden veer of the boat sent her sprawling backwards, off the side of the boat. Kenji jumped to his feet and reached for her, but it was too late. She had fallen overboard. The boy rushed to the banister and reached down for her, but she was falling far. There was no way he - or anyone else on the boat – could reach her from his height.

She screamed as she descended – it was a long fall. She knew she would hit water – the memories suddenly flashed before her eyes. She closed her eyes tight and readied for the daring waves. But, instead of a sudden splash, the only sound she heard was the flapping of wings.

She forced her eyes open – arms now cradled around her spine and legs. She gazed in amazement at Kenshin, his hair blowing in the wind, a daring expression on his face. He looked at her and smiled, but it was obvious that he was suffering now than before. She sent a surprised glance at his wounded wing. Well, the blood was seeping through the bandages, but it wasn't necessarily a bad waste of them, either. Where the sudden power had come from she did not know – but she was happy there in his arms, relaxing comfortably and smiling shyly.

Kenji rushed towards them as Kenshin landed on deck. The attacking ship had fled and the victorious crew was now retiring and returning their weapons to the storage room. Kenshin leaned against the pole weakly, snickering as Kaoru stood up.

"Kenshin... Thank you..." She sputtered, looking at the floor with a blushing face. He smiled and laid a hand on her shoulder. "I'm afraid I've bled through your bandage. I assure you that it wasn't on purpose."

Kaoru nodded, hiding her face as she fetched the medicine kit. She rewrapped it, blushing madly under her bangs. Kenshin's smile did not waver, but he sat up comfortably while she tended to his spewing wing. He did not wince or whine, as if completely oblivious to the blood and pain biting at his wing. Kenji sat beside him stubbornly – almost happily –and questioned him. "Why were you worried about me?"

Kenshin looked at him, surprised. "Why wouldn't I be? I didn't want you to be hurt."

Kenji folded his arms. "But you didn't care if Kaoru got hurt 'cause you sent her out to look for me, didn't you? Kinda stupid that you'd care more about me then her, dad."

Kenshin stared at him awkwardly a moment before replying. "I never said I wasn't worried. She wouldn't be here if I hadn't been worried." He smiled. "Kenji, there are things you understand and some things you never will."

Kaoru smiled to herself and began to blush again. No, she couldn't believe it. Yes, she could admit it... she loved this man – this quiet, selfless man named Himura. The most honest pirate that ever lived, yet the strangest at the same time...