Chapter 2: Pirates

Morning had peaked through the windows of the chamber Nel laid sleeping in. The young woman tilt to her side rubbing her eyes. Sitting up she glanced around and gave off a low groan when she remembered where she was. Throwing the blanket off sent light shivers down her spine she had forgotten how cold it was. The Aquarian maiden gathered her resting daggers which laid out on the table beside her bed "I wonder if he is up."

She slowly made way for the door and pulled it open. To her surprise the person she wondered about being up was resting his back against the wall in front of her door. He had a rather annoyed look twisted among his features. "What?" she asked as her fingerless glove rested at the side of the door beam. Albel just tilt his head to the side while smirking "I was about to wake you up." pausing he smirked "Not going to get ready before we leave?"

"Why you ask?" she questioned him only to receive a chuckle from him which only caused her to get more annoyed "Well?" she asked again her temper rising. Albel rather amused by her short temper only chuckled more "Your hair is a mess. I thought women enjoyed grooming themselves?" he told her but recieved a dagger glare from the woman across him. Nel just shook her head "We all can't be beauty queens like you." she told him and walked past the now scolding Albel. The young captain watched the Aquarian maiden walk down the halls while narrowing his dark red eyes "Hmp." Nel on the other hand had a small smile feeling rather good to give the last word in for a change. She stood in front of the entrance of the Airyglph Castle she really did not want to stay here any more longer.

Albel paused when a young maid banged in to his side. Causing him to loose his balance and collide his back against the wall. The poor young woman had also lost her balance and her face went right smack in his chest. She dared to look up at him with blush spreading across her cheeks "I.." she went pale to realize who she just bumped in to. "Bah. You filthy maggot. Get off" he grunted while his human hand pushed her aside.

The young maid was thrown off and lost her balance again. Falling on her bottom she looked up at him even more embarrassed. Fear stricken she couldn't speak a apology all she could do is sit there and shiver in place. Albel of course enjoyed watching others squirm under his gaze and tilt his head "Hmp. No apology? Really woman you deserve a punishment from me" he smirked. She squeaked "..I. am sorry. Please don't punish me! Master Albel" she looked away fearing for her life.

Albel just laughed "Heh." he raised his metal claw in the air thinking about just striking the poor girl for amusement. Though somebody grabbed the back of his claw before he swung it "Bah. What maggot dare think they.." he tilt his head sighing seeing the king. "Albel, I believe Nel is waiting for you at the entrance." Arzei spoke in a deep voice "Leave the poor maid alone" he added. The young captain let out a light growl and walked past the king with a annoyed look plastered on his face. Arzei turned towards the maid "Return to your duties. Try not to be clumsy again" he said in a light scolding voice and walked away.

Nel's foot tapped in patiently waiting for Albel to arrive. When she saw him approach her, he gave off a rather negative vibes When doesn't he she thought to herself. "Alright. I believe a boat is waiting for us." she said then paused at the entrance turning to look at him "Don't slow me down" her voice spoke rather harshly. Albel just laughed "Me? Slow you down? Bah." he just said pushing her aside and carried out into the city of Airyglph. As soon as they hit the trail which lead towards the mining town kirlsa they ran in to a stranger.

"Care to buy this lovely jewel?" the old merchant spoke while pausing Albel in his tracks. Albel narrowed his eyes "Maggot. Get out of my way." he pushed the merchant aside. Nel paused watching the merchant drop all his goods "Nox!" she scolded and sighed watching him walk on. She went to the side of the merchant and helped him with his things; the old man and Nel clashed hands while reaching for the gem he was just offering. "Sorry miss" he said while picking it up and dusted off his pants "That be your man?" the old man asked while fixing his little bag. "No." she simply said while standing up "Sorry, if you mind sir I have to follow up on him." she said then ran off after Albel.

The old man starred at her and shook his head "Hmm..you sure they are the ones?" he asked while a dark figure appeared behind him. The dark figure smirked in the shadows "Of course they are." it spoke in a monotone voice. Nel had to dash across the frozen lands and dodge a few creatures in the process. When she caught up to Albel he was found just resting against a tree with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "About time" was all he replied and smirked as she dropped her hands to her knees to catch her breath.

"What is the matter? Have you not been exercising lately? Now that I think about it did you gain wait maggot?" he laughed but paused when he was caught off guard. The young Aquarian dashed up and grabbed his metal choker thrusting him back and forth. Albel was banged up against the tree several times until Nel gave up started her way towards the gates of Kirlsa. "Hmp. What a temper" he said quietly to himself as he slowly walked behind her.

She paused at the front of the entrance looking around just brought memories. The memories of when Fayt and Cliff had first entered the town with her. She sighed "Well Nox.. Ugh. Would you keep up!" she snapped obviously still angry about the weight comment. Albel just to get her more annoyed walked up to her in a more slower pace. Without another word she made her way in to the little town.

Albel glanced over towards the storm brigade training area he was thinking about stopping in and say his few bits to Walter. Yet it seemed with Nel being rather hostile at the moment he really didn't want to bother to ask. The red head woman stopped near the docks and glanced up at a huge boat the floated on the surface of the water. "Wow.." was all she could say and felt a figure approach her from behind "Bah. What a old piece of rubble. Nothing fascinating. Even I could had built a better ship" Albel belittled Nel's comment. Before Nel could snap a comment towards a way a rather short man approached them both "Greetings! You must be Nel and Albel, I am Lanzion."

Nel stood there taking in the sight of the small pudgie sailor. He looked about in his older thirties and oddly his choice of clothing did not clash. She noticed he was rather tan and a small scar was located in his cheek "Miss..?" a voice disturbed her thoughts. The Aquarian shook her head "Oh yes. I am Nel and this is Albel" she pointed towards the anti-social one who stood far from them now. "Well I best be getting you on board to see captain Ferioth." he spoke in a rather squeaky voice "Come this way" he added while walking on to a platform that attached to the boat.

Both Nel and Albel paused together watching the wooden platform slowly sway a bit because of the water. "Ladies first" was all Albel said from behind Nel; she sighed while cautiously walking on to the platform. Quickly as she could she dashed across it and landed on the boat. Albel on the other hand was still on the dock. Nel rest her hand at her waist "What is the matter? Afraid of the ocean?" she asked with a light smirk. Albel just snorted while walking across the wooden board but it swayed causing him to turn pale.

This sure was a sight for Nel as she watched him squirm over the platform as quick as his feet would take him. Albel rest his metal claw at the edge of the boat's railing and his human hand rest at his chest breathing in air lightly. Nel laughed from where she was standing "Albel the Wicked afraid of water?" this of course caused Albel to turn to her "Bah. Shut your mouth, maggot" he felt his dignity go down a small notch. Lanzion approached them cautiously "Um. If you both be kind enough. Please follow me to the captain's cabin" he gestured them towards the door with a rather odd symbol above it.

Nel glanced up at the symbol inside she felt a rather odd feeling ...just me or is that a..never mind probably just my imagination she thought in her head. Albel disliked the whole swaying of the boat so he slowly walked towards the doors. Nel followed close behind him and she glanced towards Lanzion who waited patiently for them at the door. "This way" the young sailor spoke while opening the door for them both. As soon as both entered Lanzion shut the door behind him "Alright boys. Start set sailing" he waved his hand and rest his back against the side near the captain's cabin doors.

The room was dimly lit and the young captain sat in a chair behind a desk. A black feather pen was in his right hand as he was writing something. He looked up with his green eyes up at them "Ah. You both must be my guests." he said while resting his feather pen back in the ink bottle. The young captain, Nel had to admit was rather handsome he had to be at least in his middle twenties. He had black shoulder length hair and bright green eyes, dressed in a white ruffled button up shirt.

A black hat with a red feather graced up on his head and a light smirk crossing his features. She blushed feeling as if he was bearing holes in her skin as he looked her over. Albel on the other hand gave off a grunt "Bah. Could you dress anymore flamboyant? You have pirate written all over your features" which caused the young captain to laugh. Ferioth stood up to reveal he was wearing black tight pants and a black belt with a silver skull on the buckle. His sword was sheathed to the side of his waist "Hm. Is that so? Well mates, might be right I may just be a pirate." he said.

"Foolish king." was all Albel commented until he rest his back against the wall. The captain smirked "Ah yes. What a moron he may be. Though I can't say I won't be helping you getting that moon dagger. Only catch is it won't be for his dirty little hands." he chuckled and moved aside in front of the desk he pulled out a chair. "Come on pretty lass, come take a seat" he grinned while patting the padded chair; Nel cautiously glanced at the chair and yet she decided to go take a seat. Albel remained where he was for he had no care to become any part of what was going on. The captain pulled the chair in once Nel sat down in it and he moved around the table to take his seat.

"So tell me, do you know anything about the moon dagger?"

To be continued...

A/N: Woah. I had not written in a while. Actually I had horrible writers block. I can't even say this is going as well as I wished. But I decided to continue anyways and hope to be able to write more. Thanks again for all the reviews!I probably re-edit abit. Just fixed a few mistakes but I have work to do. So I'll finish the rest later. Thanks :3