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Umm… Hi.

I am still alive! … Sorry about the extremely delayed chapter, but I've had other things needing my attention. I've been packed with school work (high school sucks) and I had two non-fanfiction, completely original books I have been working on. One is completely finished and a good 130 pages while the other is newer and only around 9, sooo… Lendra-chan kinda got me back into writing fanfictions, along with the several reviews by the lovely Tsuki-chan. Domo, DOMO arigato, Tsuki-chan! I appreciate everything you've said! (And I promise to refrain from using 'hamper'. … eyetwitch )

Anyway… onto the show! Oo; (And it's a long one…)

-Ditox-san

The raid of the policemen staggered on into the dead of night, the forces of the officials unyielding as the pirates fought with everything they could possibly muster. The heat of battle only grew hotter as the daring captain shouted orders to the crew – it was true that he detested combat, constantly nagging the crew to hold back their extreme power in an attempt to refrain from taking any lives. The crew disapproved of the idea, but helplessly followed captain Himura's orders.

Kaoru had been ushered back into the cabin by Kenji. Though unafraid of the combat, her only fear was the safety of the heroic captain whom she'd dedicated her heart to. He rushed around the ship screaming orders though he was wounded – his wing was still bleeding mercilessly, yet he was bold and hid the slightest amount of pain he endured. The injured wing drooped while the other was extended as his voice rang throughout the deck. Sounds of gunshots and the roars of the people rose as the night staggered on, into the early hours of the morning.

Kenji had been told to usher Kaoru into the cabin and remain there himself, but he guiltlessly disobeyed his father's commands and crept back onto the ship, snickering madly to himself. "How'm I gonna just let all this action pass me by?" Unfortunately, Sanosuke had overheard Kenshin's commands and rushed the undaunted boy back into the safety of the cabin.

Kaoru disliked remaining inside as well, but she chose to keep her opinions to herself. She observed Kenji from the corner of the room as he stormed around the cabin dejectedly, grumbling foul comments beneath his breath as the heat of battle continued endlessly outside the tiny sanctuary. "How can he just keep me cooped up in this stupid cabin?! I ain't gonna go get m'self hurt or nothin', would I?!"

"He's trying to protect you either way," Kaoru replied solemnly.

"Protect me?! How is keepin' me in a closet gonna protect me?!" Kenji threw his arms up into the air stressfully, gritting his teeth irately as his emerald eyes burned with fury. "I can't stand this! That dope don't trust me one bit, he don't! Can you believe that?!" He put his hands on his hips and glared at Kaoru. "What's not to trust about me, huh?!"

Kaoru scratched her head. "Dope?"

"Answer the question, vixen!" Kenji's fists tensed with rage as his eyes remained fixed on the patient woman.

She sighed, eyes wandering off to the side. "You're still a little kid, Kenji. He's your father … He has the right to try and protect you, even if it's against your will. Don't you understand?"

The boy grumbled softly, "I ain't little…" He plopped into the opposite corner and pouted, his arms folded angrily as he glared at the ground. "This sucks!" After an extended pause, he reached up to his ponytail and pulled out the tie. His copper locks fell to his shoulders as he fingered the elastic that had held his hair, wrapping it around his wrists and fingers or shooting the elastic up into the air and catching it as it descended. Kaoru tried to suppress a delightful giggle, but failed miserably and received a dark glare from the boy across the room.

The combat slowly died as the sun began to rise – the officers were sent for reinforcements, but never returned as the day progressed. None of their men had fallen dead – but most, if not all, had been severely injured. The crew, however, took no pride in their accomplishment. "Nobody died," Sanosuke grumbled as he wrapped a wound on his arm, "there's nothing to be proud of besides that we scared them away. They'll only come back."

"But we'll be prepared next time," Himura smiled, "and taking lives is the lowest of the low, mister Sanosuke. What reward comes out of the death of another?" Although it was completely hidden by his congenial, delighted expression, the guilt of assisting at just wounding another living man was eating away at his heart. Sano could see through his expression he used as a mask, but he said nothing. Kenshin wandered back to the railing of the ship, rubbing his eyes wearily as he leaned forward onto the bannister, stifling a yawn.

Kaoru felt it safe to emerge from the sanctuary of the small cabin – but not until Kenji urged her to. She stepped out into the sunlight, stretching her arms leisurely as the feisty young boy rushed out cackling malevolently as he celebrated his sudden freedom. Kaoru looked up at the sky, adoring the fluffy ivory clouds with a gentle grin. "The storm is over so fast and everything is calm again," she observed, slightly surprised. "It's as if nothing happened at all. Maybe they're … used to this?"

Her eyes wandered around, trying to spot the daring captain, though he appeared to have disappeared altogether. She began to meander around the deck, occasionally questioning the crew member's on Himura's whereabouts, but gained no answers. "He's probably resting," Sano replied, still nursing his wounded arm.

"Why would he be resting and not the rest of you?" Kaoru placed her hands on her hips stubbornly, sneering at the man. "You're all just as banged up as he is, even if he is the captain."

"Don't know," he replied simply. "We've got work to do."

"And he doesn't?" She growled, shaking her head. "I should go and straighten him out, shouldn't I? I'll teach him a thing or two!"

Sanosuke sent her a very dull stare. "I doubt you can teach that guy anything." He sighed, leaning back slightly, "He acts pretty dense sometimes, but at least I know that he's got something running that brainless head of his." He snickered lightly to himself as he paused before concluding, "He's not as stupid as he acts sometimes. I've come to believe he has some certain reason for everything he does."

Kaoru folded her arms. "Gee, you're sentimental all of a sudden. Anyway, I want to ask him how the battle went, but I can't find the bum anywhere…" She sighed. Sano watched her in silence as she walked away, continuing her search for the captain.

She made her way to the captain's quarters, knocking on the closed door politely. She waited for a response, but nothing answered her call. She knocked a second time and still received no reply. Curiosity abounding, she grinned coyly to herself and rubbed her hands together. "Heh-heh… I've always wanted to know what the heck he keeps in there… Now's my time to get a peek!" She laid her hand on the doorknob, glanced cautiously over her shoulder, and turned the knob. It was surprisingly unlocked and she quickly crept in, closing the door behind her.

She backed up against the door, releasing a sigh of relief. Her eyes then glanced around the room – it was especially messy. She realized she was alone in the captain's quarters, a room strictly forbidden to any crew member… and probably Kenji as well. She stepped forward, mouth falling agape as she gazed at the objects strewn throughout the room.

She noticed a peculiar-looking sword sheath leaning against the wall, apparently aged but an obvious treasure to the captain. A treasure chest stood against the wall beneath a small window beside the bed. She crept over to it and audaciously opened it. Immediately, she began to choke on the dust eminating from the unopened box. It had not been opened in a very long time. She then noticed the objects that rested inside – she pushed through the maps and papers before revealing an album placed at the very bottom. Curious, she pulled it out of the chest and dusted it off – it was a photo album.

Curiosity aroused, she opened it timidly and glanced through the pictures. Pictures of a short, red-headed boy standing at the end of a dock, barely visible through the fog. Pictures of an older red-headed boy walking away, hands in pockets, head bowed. Another picture of the same boy, grinning wildly as he leans over a bannister of a ship, a glorious sunset in the background. There were only a few pictures in the album that caught her attention – the picture of the same red-headed boy, very young, without either wings or a tail. The second picture she noticed was of an older version of the same boy, wearing a slightly weary smile, holding a young baby in his arms. The child appeared to be contently sleeping. Kaoru smiled to herself, though slightly puzzled.

She predicted the next few pictures and smiled as they came – yes, pictures of the little brown-haired boy grinning and laughing, having the time of his life. But his eyes never seemed to glimmer in any photo as much as in the pictures where he was running amok on the ship, one where he was covered in spaghetti sauce.

"Most people find it rude when others intrude on their personal space," a relaxed voice said over her shoulder as an arm extended and lifted the precious book from her clutch. She hesitantly glanced up at the slightly discouraged captain looking down at her. He sighed, closing the treasure box solemnly before turning back to the ashamed girl, "I thought I told you my room was off limits…"

"Yes… you did," she replied, eyes staring at the ground.

"Then… why?"

She glanced up at him with doleful eyes, "I needed to know something… You wouldn't tell me for yourself, so I thought I could try to find out for myself…" She bowed her head again, biting her lower lip in shame. "I'm sorry, captain…"

He folded his arms, giving her a weary but gentle smile. She was suddenly reminded of one of the pictures in the album and curiously questioned him, "Mister Himura… About one of the pictures I saw…"

His smile almost faded. "Yes?"

"The little baby in the pictures… Is that…?"

"Kenji… yes."

She nodded solemnly before continuing, "Why were you so tired in that first picture with Kenji?" She glanced off to the side, trying to remember the young captain's weary smile in the aged photo. "You looked especially energyless."

He didn't answer, but only smiled and ushered her silently from his room, properly closing the door behind her as she emerged into the sunlight again. He disappeared into his cabin for the remainder of the day, not once emerging until sunlight bloomed into the sky again.