Hey peoples! Once again, I have updated one of my funniest fics! For the next chapter, you will not see anything about Dragoneyes238, for I have shafted her on the term "Shafted" in this particular place and time, means "completely ignoring the person you hate, for they have said something that has offended you not only in school, but in a review in another one of my stories, and you have a very short temper and your friend has a hobby of getting under your skin and is acting like a total jerk to you." As you can see, I am acting like the great author Lemony Snicket. I believe he is a great author and deserves to be in my dedication.

Speaking of Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events, book eleven, The Grim Grotto is now in stores! Go buy it!

And speaking of Series of Unfortunate Events, a movie is coming out in theatres this December, featuring the first three books! The best part is that Count Olaf will be played by none other than Jim Carrey! Ooh! This WILL be fun!

Reviews:

Khaki Blue Socks: KYAA!! Gomen! Gomen! (bows several times) I am SOOOO sorry for calling u a girl! It was a complete accident! Honest! I must have absentmindedly added a 'she' or a 'her' to the shoutout! Once again, SORRY!! It will NEVER happen again!

The Shape Shifting Chick: Wow! You reviewed all 8 chapters in ONE DAY! I'm impressed. And yes, Yoyo will sing the song, not to mention get drunk! Ooh goody!!

By the way, I'm not sad anymore! I'm getting reviews again! Isn't that special! Now I'm gonna dance like a hyperactive little thirteen-year-old! YAAY!!!

Okay I'm back. Did u miss me? Yeah... So I hope you enjoy chapter nine! It's fluffy, slightly sad and really cute! Hope you like it!

Same with all you other readers!!

On with the story!

Chapter 9: Anyone that falls behind, gets left behind

Hayashi dropped the bloody coin in with a clink and everyone paused as if they were waiting to get a message from the gods. What was with them? And why did they need Rhyth's blood? These were some thoughts that ran through Beat's head as he watched from behind. After what seemed like ten seconds, Hayashi opened an eye.

"I feel no different!" One of the pirates in the group yelled. Another one agreed.

"How do we know if it worked?!" A third pirate asked. Hayashi rolled his eyes, pulled his gun out of his holster -like he usually does in the games- and shot one of his own fellow pirates. To Beat's surprise, he didn't hear a thump.

"Hey!" One of the dumber pirates pointed out. "You're not dead."

"He shot me!" another voice yelled. Beat guessed that was the pirate Hayashi used for a guinea pig.

"YOU!!" Hayashi turned to Rhyth, who had a smirk on her face. "Are you Elizabeth Turner?! The daughter of the great William Turner?!" He picked up the piece of bloody gold he had just dropped in, and shook it an inch from her face in rage. Rhyth continued to smirk.

"No." She replied with a smile. This wasn't the smartest thing to do, for Hayashi went and slapped her across the face with such force, she was knocked off the pile of gold, along with the medallion. Rhyth's fall was broken just before she hit the water. Beat chose this as the opportune moment.

The rudie swam over silently and looked at Rhyth closely. Despite the fact that her hair was slightly messy and she now carried a couple of injuries, she was no less than perfect. Beat's hand reached out and gently caressed Rhyth's cheek.

Rhyth opened her eyes to the sensation of something brushing against her face and made eye contact with a familiar brown eyed, red haired boy that was drenched from head to toe. Beat's hair was matted against his face from the water, which -to Rhyth- made him look... er... let's not go there.

Beat quickly put a finger to his lips and beckoned her to follow him. Rhyth did immediately as he was told and stepped into the cool water. Beat's arm went around her waist as he helped her get across the stream and into the cave across from them.

Once the two rudies were away from the angered pirates, Beat turned to Rhyth. Both of them seemed at a loss for words... so there was only one way to explain how he felt... well actually, there were two, but he chose the safer one.

In one quick movement, Beat pulled Rhyth into a loving hug. Of course, Beat wouldn't say it was a 'loving' hug... it was a sibling love... yeah, that's it!

"You idiot." Beat managed to whisper in the girl's ear. Rhyth just smiled.

"Jerk." She whispered back.

"Don't you ever do that to me again!"

"Don't take so long, next time!"

Beat pulled away from Rhyth and looked at her with eyes full of both concern and worry. The only way to describe them is to say Inuyasha eyes. Ya know... when he's all worried about Kagome and the couple have one of those cute moments?

Anyway, so Beat looked down at Rhyth with those adorable Inuyasha eyes that were so full of concern.

"Well..." Rhyth looked up at the rudie. "It's just that you took so long... and dreams never go right with the story line..." She started to feel guilty for saying what she had said.

"Rhyth... I'm sorry we didn't come in time..." He told Rhyth, looking her in the eye. "I would've come sooner... but... we had a few minor setbacks." He suddenly chuckled. "You should know... you've read the book." Rhyth giggled.

"Well, actually..." Rhyth looked up at her friend childishly. "I... haven't actually 'finished' it yet..." Beat gaped.

"WHAT?!" Beat stared at the girl in surprise. "What do you mean 'you haven't finished it yet'?!" Rhyth blushed slightly.

"Well, I'm on the last page..." She explained. "I only read to the part where Jack Sparrow escapes from the gallows."

"Oh..." Beat looked slightly frustrated at this.

"Well... thanks again, Beat." She said sweetly and in one swooping movement, kissed him on the cheek. The rudie turned a light shade of pink as she did so.

"Er... we'd better get going." He stammered, avoiding Rhyth's eye. Rhyth smiled and agreed.

"Hey, Rhyth?"

"Yeah?"

"Where'd you get the dress?"

& & & & &

"Oh that lousy son of a-" Yoyo paused to gingerly touch his head, which had a large lump from the oar that Beat hit him with. "When he comes back... I'm gonna make him pay! Ow!" the rudie twitched once again. "Okay... anger... not good for head."

Yoyo had woken up a few moments ago after tilting the boat just enough so that he fell into the water, but the boat was able to retain it's usual position. After several curses, he had climbed onto the rocky shore to dry himself off and plot against Beat.

"Speaking of Beat..." Yoyo muttered to himself. "Where is he?" His eyes widened in realization. 'He... he's gone to rescue Rhyth!' The rudie groaned inwardly and stood up. "Beat, you idiot! Now you've probably gotten into more trouble than you already have!"

Yoyo ran through the cave, quietly calling his friend's name out, hoping that he would hear it.

"Beat." He whispered for what seemed like the hundredth time. "Beat! Where the fuck are you?!"

The rudie walked down a small ramp made of stone that had been smoothed out by several pirates running up and down the same place several times. As he turned the corner, he realized that several of these pirates were standing in front of him, loaded pistols held up to his chest.

"Oops." Yoyo said, grinning. "My bad." He started to move back, when he felt another pistol poke him in the back.

"Uh oh..."

& & & & &

"Yoyo?" Beat looked around the area. "Yoyoooo!! Where are you, man?"

"Do you think he fell in the water?" Rhyth asked, kneeling down to look at the surface.

"Nah." Beat replied with a smile. "We would see his hair." Rhyth laughed lightly.

'Yep.' She thought happily. 'Same old Beat...'

"So..." Beat started as he sat down beside Rhyth in defeat. "He's not here... now what?" Rhyth looked over at Beat.

"I think I know where he is..." Rhyth explained. "But if I'm right, that means we have to leave him behind." Beat was left in a state of shock.

"WHAT?!" He stuttered. "But... but why?"

"Well, there's actually a code..." She started, looking down at her reflection in the water. "One of the rules is... 'Anyone that falls behind... gets left behind.'" Beat gave Rhyth an are-you-insane look, which depressed her even more. "It's not MY fault! It goes along with the story! We're supposed to leave him behind!"

Beat stayed silent for a while. After a few moments, he averted his gaze to the water.

"You know..." Beat started, gazing into the watery blackness. "You had me worried for a bit..." Rhyth turned to her friend in surprise.

"What?" Rhyth asked, not believing her ears.

"Well... you got captured by pirates. What else was I supposed to do?" He looked over at Rhyth, a lazy smile on his face.

"Oh, I don't know..." she replied sarcastically. "Not care?" Beat whacked her on the back of the head lightly.

"Why would I? You're my friend!"

Rhyth and Beat exchanged smiles. For some reason, Beat found it natural to open up to her... she was like... a sister. But even I ('I' meaning the narrator) don't open up to my sisters.

'What... what if I really do care for Rhyth more than a sister...' Beat asked himself silently. He then shook his head. 'No way! Rhyth's way too good of a friend... despite the fact that we fight constantly, tease each other to no end and blackmail one another every day, it's as if we've known each other forever!' The rudie let out a sigh. 'Yeah... real good friends.'

"Well..." Beat started, coughing slightly. "I guess we'd better get going now..." Rhyth nodded as she followed Beat over to the rowboat.

& & & & &

"Look!" Jazz yelled at Corn. "They're back!"

The blonde-haired boy ran over to the starboard (right for all u land lovers) side of the ship and leaned over the side.

"Hey!" He said happily. "You're right! BEAT!! RHYTH!! YOYO!!" By this time, the rest of the crew had run, walked or crawled over to their side of the deck to see what was going on. After what seemed like one to many moments of cheering, Beat and Rhyth had finally climbed aboard.

"Rhyth!" Jazz said happily, hugging her friend. "You're alright!"

"Jazz?! I'm so happy to see you!" She said, pulling away from her. "You're Ana Maria?" Jazz nodded glumly.

"Sucks to be me."

"Beat!" Corn walked up to his friend, hand raised in congrats. Beat replied with a high five and some totally cool handshake. "You saved Rhyth! Good job, man!" Beat smirked sheepishly in reply.

"Wait a second..." Jazz took a few looks around the group to make sure. "Where's Yoyo?"

There was silence as everyone turned to face Beat. The rudie looked down at the ground with guilt as he managed to say, "He... he fell behind."

TBC...

Well, there you have it! Short but sweet! Kind of a more emotional part of the story. Not really my funniest, but it's sweet. Beat and Rhyth are really starting to warm up to each other now