I've finished another chapter! Yay for you and me! I must apologize for any errors present in the last chapter. I've gone back and fixed some of the more glaring mistakes, but as it takes a while to post changes, you might not see them happen for a while. I'm extremely happy with the way this fic is shaping up. I've got most of it worked out right now. I don't want you to get used to the "quick" updates, though. I probably won't be able to do that again for a while. I neglected quite a bit of reading that I now need to catch up on, I'll have you know! But I loved doing it, and hope you like the results.
Disclaimer: Same as before, and I'm still the poor college student I was. I'm obviously not receiving any monetary compensation for this.
Scene Two: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Even before the docking plank was fully extended, Will and Rayla were running through the streets of the busy docks of Port Smith. "You little rascals!" they heard old Blue yell after them. Apparently he hadn't forgotten his recent embarrassment.
But his angry yells were in vain, for the two had already found themselves in the city. After Rayla dropped off her ritual letter at the courier's office, they set off to explore the town. Rayla had been vigilantly sending Lee letters every time the ship arrived at a port. She'd never received any in return, but knew how hard it was for letters to find a ship always on the move. She wasn't even sure if Leena was getting her letters, though she hoped she was. She didn't want Carolina to worry over her. Or worse, be upset with her. She quickly dismissed her unpleasant train of thought as they looked about the marketplace in wonderment. It wasn't often the Captain deemed a port safe enough for them to enjoy the sights.
"There are a lot more people than last time," Rayla commented quietly. She'd never been one for crowds, and she unconsciously readjusted her scarf so that it covered more of her neck. Though the "U" had faded a bit in these past four years, she wasn't going to give anyone the opportunity to dredge up painful old memories. Her thoughts once again drifted back to her friend from her earlier childhood, as they often did when she felt uncomfortable in a situation. The brutish look that always graced Carolina's face made people think twice about messing with her and her smaller friend.
"Are you scared?" Will asked in a mocking tone, but with concern in his eyes.
Rayla glared at him and huffed. "Hmph. Not likely."
Will grinned at the return of her normal self and they continued to take in the places of interest. There were more people than last time. It must have been a market day. There were so many stalls selling so many different items it was going to be hard trying to decide what to spend their meager earnings on. Port Smith was enjoying profitable times indeed.
Something caught Ray's eye as she passed by an alley leading off from the square. There was a wagon and a small makeshift stage, and a group of people were watching a mysterious woman move in a bizarre dance as they provided the music with drums and tambourines and other instruments Ray didn't recognize. "Gypsies," Rayla breathed, and found herself drawn towards them.
Will, on the other hand, had decided on his first purchases and hurried to the merchant. Putting on the small tricorne, he allowed himself a proud smirk. He'd always wanted a hat like this, and he was sure that it made him look like a captain in the making. Maybe he could add a feather to it later… He was about to turn to Ray to show off his newest possession, the other object clutched in his hand, when he noticed a cart adjacent to the one he'd just bought from, decorated with the most unusual flowers he had ever seen.
"Would the lad like to buy another gift for his lady-friend?" The woman at the cart asked cordially, indicating the item he was already carrying.
"I…don't know if she'd like them," he said uncertainly. It was true. Rayla had never been the "girly" type, and had actually taken offence the few times he had pointed that out. He subconsciously rubbed his shoulder were she had hit him the first time, when he had told her it wasn't ladylike to be wearing trousers.
The vender nodded knowingly, "Ah, a rare female you seem to have found. Never mind, I've got just the flower for her. Breathtaking and exquisite, as rare as your friend I reckon." It was indeed. The purest white, its petals burst forth in the most unusual pattern he had ever seen. "Casablanca lilies, these are called. Only a few places are right enough for them to grow in."
Will didn't like the way she was saying the word friend. Rayla was just a friend. Granted, she was his best friend, but he'd never thought of her as anything more. He was sure she wouldn't appreciate the thought, and looked around when the expected retort didn't come. He grew a bit panicked when he realized she wasn't behind him as he thought she was.
He was about to head off and look for her, when the merchant stopped him. "Hey now laddie, you can't possibly leave without buying one!" At his hurried look, she pressed on, afraid of losing a customer. "A bargain at a penny for a single, and a shilling for a dozen!"
Will grew annoyed, but thrust his hands into his pocket and pulled out four farthings. "Here, woman! Now let me be!" he said crossly.
Understanding his rudeness as urgency, she chuckled softly with a gleam in her eye. "Good luck, lad!" she called out, as he darted away.
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Rayla had been watching the mystifying dance for a while now, and was lost in its enthralling intricacy. She found herself swaying along with the enchanting music, her lips pulled into a lazy smile. She suddenly felt a moment of panic, and frowned. What had she just felt? She didn't feel as if she was in any danger. She looked towards the cart where she had seen Will headed last, and suppressed her own alarm when she didn't see him there. She turned back to the gypsies, not wanting to leave them, but if Will was in danger…she didn't want to think about it. Her eyes drifted back to the dancing woman, and she was surprised to see that the lady was staring right at her. Violet eyes met black, and the Gypsy woman arched a carefully sculpted eyebrow as she continued her spellbinding dance. Rayla blushed, and withdrew from her pocket a whole shilling, tossing it into the small chest in front of the dancing lady. The group gave a shout in appreciation and continued on with their music. Rayla gave the woman an apologetic look, as she really did want to stay, but turned and ran to find her best friend.
She quickly scanned the marketplace, and cursed her childhood height. Looking around, she saw a building with a ladder leaning up against a crumbling wall, and decided that it would make for a better vantage point. By now she was used to climbing, as it was usually her or Will that went up to untangle the lines from the sails if they got caught. Even so, the ladder and wall made her feel uneasy. Halfway up, she was only as tall as the top of the awnings of the carts, which blocked her view. She climbed up a few more rungs, and froze when she felt it give an awkward shift. She quickly scanned the market district, looking for his tell-tale sandy blond locks. She actually had very good eyesight, and the Captain had even allowed her to accompany the Watchman on a few occasions. A small figure darting between the larger ones caught her eye. 'It could be him,' she thought to herself, training her sight on the moving form with the tricorne, who seemed to be carrying something long and white. 'A flower, perhaps?' she wondered, just as the ladder began to lurch forward. She had inadvertently climbed to the top rungs as she was concentrating on her target, and her eyes widened as she realized it would no longer support her weight. She made to scramble down, but it was too late. All she could do was cling to the ladder with one hand, while throwing her other arm over her head in a futile attempt to protect herself.
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Will stopped as he heard a low rumble. A few other people looked around wondering what the source was as well. Once they realized it was only the old mill finally falling in on itself, they continued on with their business.
"About time that thing fell through. Nothing but a meeting place for hooligans, and nobody bothering to do a thing about it," commented a nearby burly man as he checked the quality of the fruit he was about to buy.
Will was about to head off in the opposite direction, but stopped and looked back at the mill. He turned towards the general direction of the dilapidated building, hoping his instincts were wrong.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Carolina smiled at the letter she held in her hand. The courier's office had long since become accustomed to an Unwanted receiving mail. It had taken a little convincing that she was the "Lee" they were addressed to, but like most people she went up against, they eventually thought it best to heed her wishes, especially since there wasn't anyone else claiming the letters.
She loved reading about Rayla's, and her new friend Will's, escapades on the merchant ship. She was happy that her friend had found a welcoming place without too much trouble. Though, she might have been happy here if she had stayed just a bit longer. Jayden and his goons had decided to take a little tour of the world themselves, when they had joined a rather dubious looking man who came ashore looking for a willing crew.
Rayla's narratives were a wonderful way to go exploring without ever having to set foot on a ship. She also sent little tokens from her life on the seas, and sometimes she even managed to slip in a few coins.
Her letters had other benefits as well. People looked at her differently now that she was receiving mail. It meant she wasn't completely unwanted. And now that she was willing to actually pay for a meal every once in a while, the merchants were more willing to let her work for it as well. They soon found out how good a worker she actually was, thereby gaining her the trust of many.
It had certainly not been a swift change, though. She sighed. How long had it been? Four years. Four long years since she had last seen her childhood friend. She had long ago stopped looking for the boat which the headstrong girl had stowed upon in the first place. She couldn't help but feel a bit slighted at the fact that Rayla never visited. Or if she did, she never sought her out. Carolina was a whole year her elder, the same age as this Will person, she found, but she felt as if she were the younger sister. She knew Rayla would return when the time was right, however.
Satisfied with the update and her musings, Leena stretched out her long limbs as she settled into her favorite spot, underneath an old oak tree. She loved her secret arbor. It always made her feel so at peace. She slowly drifted off into dreams of falling, of curses, and pirates. She awoke with a start a little while later, worry etched on her features. She shook her head and dismissed them as effects of the heat, and nodded off once again.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Rayla forced her eyes open, and then shut them tight against the dust that had not yet settled. Coughing weakly, she moaned at the acute pain on the side of her head, and raised a hand to it gingerly. 'Ouch,' she thought dismally, and then started to notice her surroundings when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. There were people in here. And from the looks on their faces they didn't look too happy to see the stranger in their midst. That's when she noticed the ground beneath her shifting, and looked down into very familiar and almost forgotten cold, cobalt eyes. As they slowly focused on her own violet ones, they widened in confusion, and then narrowed. Rayla found herself thrown to the side, still too disoriented to fully comprehend what was going on.
"You," the owner of the glaring ice-blue eyes spat, which happened to belong to a boy around her age. He slowly disentangled himself from the debris as she scrambled to her feet. She couldn't quite place the voice or the face, which was covered with dirt.
Without warning, he took a step forward and reached out to her, yanking away her carefully positioned scarf. His grin turned predatory as he glanced at the "U" embedded in her skin.
Rayla's hand flew to her throat, too late to stop the damage from being done. As she slowly gained control of her surprise, she finally recognized the boy in front of her. "You," she echoed his statement more calmly, though with no less hate.
"Good Sir LeRay, a pleasure to meet your acquaintance once again," he spoke derisively, giving her a mock bow, and glanced pointedly at her pants. His associates laughed scathingly as if on cue.
She glared at his insult, and responded in kind. "Madame Jayden. Good to see you've managed to dislodge the tail you had between your legs when we last met. You ran off so suddenly. Didn't think two girls could make you feel so…inadequate." She grinned triumphantly when she saw the comment had hit its mark.
A man stepped forward, and the feelings she got from him almost made her regret her statement. She knew he was dangerous, and took an unconscious step backward.
"My, my. Such a mouth on such a young child. Who is your friend, Jayden?" he questioned in a low voice.
Rayla bristled at his derogatory tone and drew herself up to her full height, ignoring the stab of pain it caused her head. She wasn't very tall, but it was impressive, nonetheless. As scared as she was, she wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of knowing it. "I am a full eleven years old. Hardly a child anymore. And my name is Rayla," she decided to inform them.
"An Unwanted, I see," the dark man observed.
"Same as him," she said thrusting her chin towards Jayden, who seemed to be using every ounce of his willpower to keep from launching himself at her. At her comment though, he once again gained that irritatingly cocky smile she was loathe to.
"Unwanted no more. I have a place now, unlike yourself."
And indeed it seemed that way, for as he turned slightly to the side she could see that the "U" he had had when he was younger was now part of a tattoo of a sinister looking snake.
Rayla cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brow. "A snake. Hmm…it suits you."
Understanding it wasn't a compliment, some of the other men in the room took a few steps forward as a warning. Rayla suddenly felt the urge to run, but kept up her act of bored indifference while stealing quick glances around the building she had fallen into.
The man beside Jayden gave a very uncomforting chuckle. "You've got a lot of spirit, I'll give you that. My name's Barbossa. And unfortunately for you, little missy, you've just stumbled into a whole heap of trouble."
Oh no! A cliffie! I don't think I would have put this chapter out so soon if I didn't stop it here though. Plus I think the next part would make more sense for the next chapter title.
In case you guys didn't notice, I've tried to incorporate some SM background stuff in here. I'm really sorry Lita/Carolina is being more of a reminiscing-type character. But I transitioned her into present time! She'll become a lot more important in the coming chapters. And obviously they haven't met up with Mina/Elizabeth. I really didn't intend for this to be a Rei-centric fic, but I have to set up some of the background, and it just turned out that she was in there.
Much love to my very first reviewers, nikki, vik, and Firenze! It was so exciting when I saw that you guys had posted something. Thanks tons, and hope you keep reading and reviewing!
Anything that's bugging you? Anything you like? Any other types of comments? You know, the only way I'll find out about your musings is if you push the little button on the bottom left part of your window. Yup, that's the one!
Edited 6/18/05
