YYF14: First things first, thank you to those who reviewed. Second, yay! I got a decent length chapter! I thought it'd be hard, but it wasn't really... the next chapter will be coming up either later today or tonight, because I had originally planned to put it in this chapter, but if I did, it would never end, so... whatever. Next chapter up SOON, basically. Hmm... nothin' much else to say, so... I'll shut up so you guys can read.

Back in Jack's cabin, Koenma was questioning himself whether it had been a good idea to tell Jack, even though he had probably already known. And now Jack probably wouldn't want to be around him…

He was too distracted to notice the two burly pirates coming into the room until they grabbed him.

"Ja- mmph!" One of the two covered his mouth with a hand.

"I wouldn't advise doin' that again," he growled. "Do ya understand?"

Koenma nodded, seeing the swords that the two were holding. He recognized these two- they were the ones who had suggested heating up the swords for both cutting and burning. The worst burn on his shoulder had been caused by them.

-----

Back on deck, the pistols had been quickly discarded, as they weren't very reliable in close combat, and the sound of clashing swords filled the air.

Will and Elizabeth were fighting as well, despite protests from the crew that they didn't have to. This enemy crew wasn't very challenging. They were obviously stalling for something.

As Will finished off one of the opposing pirates, he saw movement near the helm. He looked over and frowned, wondering why there would be people over there if there was no one to fight. They were holding someone… Just great…

"Jack, they're taking Koenma!"

All activity on the ship stopped- the other crew pausing from an unheard command, the crew of the Black Pearl pausing to see what their enemies would do next.

Suddenly, a cheer rose from the opposing crew, and there was a mad dash to get off of the Pearl.

"Jack, what are we going to do about Koenma?" Will asked, watching the other crew prepare to sail. "What are they going to do to him?"

"I think I know, and it won't be pretty. Tell Anamaria she's in charge till I get back."

"Jack, what are you-?" Will stopped. Jack was going onto the other ship?

-----

"We have the boy, sir, just like you ordered," one of the pirates said in a rough voice.

"Very good, very good… How's it feel to be back with us, boy? Did you miss us?"

Koenma refused to answer, and glared at the captain.

"Come now, you must have something to say."

"Jack will stop you. He'll take me back, and kill you."

"How confident you are in your captain. However," and here his voice became little more than a whisper, "you are on my ship now, under my command. You would do well to remember that."

Koenma nodded, looking down. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Now take him down to his room and have some fun," the captain said, smirking slightly. "We've missed you, boy."

Koenma growled, but allowed himself to be pulled below deck.

"So, who bandaged you up?" one of the crew members asked once they had entered the room. Koenma contemplated not telling, but quickly changed his mind once he saw the other man start heating up his sword.

"Captain Jack did, sir," he said quickly.

The man stared at him in disbelief. "Jack Sparrow? You're lying. He wouldn' do something like that."

"I'm telling the truth!"

"It seems you've gotten an attitude while you were gone. Let's fix that."

Koenma watched the man fearfully as the sword was taken from the fire.

"D'you still have that stupid mark on your forehead?" the man asked, moving to stand right in front of Koenma. "The person who gave you to us the first time said it would be permanent."

Koenma stayed silent, which annoyed the man in front of him.

"Fine, then. If you want to be difficult…"

-----

Jack watched from the next room over what was happening. He had had to knock out three people so he could get to the room, and thankfully the door could be locked and unlocked from the inside without a key.

He watched as the man talked about something- he couldn't hear through the glass- and his eyes widened when he saw the sword. The boy had told him about this, but it was something else entirely to witness it.

The man removed Koenma's headband and pressed the sword to it. Jack could see Koenma trying not to make a noise, and winced. That was making the man angry. The sword was taken away, and a nasty burn mark was revealed. However, there was another mark under it- Jack thought it looked like there were letters on his forehead. Well, that made no sense.

The man left the room, but Jack continued to watch the boy. After about thirty seconds, Koenma looked up, seeming to look straight at him.

"Jack?" he murmured. "What're you doing here?"

Jack hesitated, then carefully left the room he was in, and entered the one Koenma was in. At least most of the crew members weren't on deck. He looked at Koenma, a concerned expression on his face.

"You alright, mate?"

Koenma nodded. "Mostly. They didn't do much. I can't believe you came."

"Of course I came. You're important to me."

Koenma's eyes shone. "Are you serious, captain?"

"Call me Jack, mate. And I am serious."

Koenma smiled slightly. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me…"

"Then how about I say something else nice."

Koenma looked at Jack in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"…About the compass. I used it, and it pointed to you. I know it pointed to me for you, so you know what that means."

Koenma's eyes widened as Jack moved closer.

"If we both feel that way, there's no point trying to hide it. I know you love me, mate, and I want you to know that it works the other way around, too."

The door opened, and the captain entered, an annoyed look on his face.

"Sparrow. What are you doing here?"

"What's it look like? I'm taking the boy back."

"Why would you want him?" the captain asked. "He isn't worth much."

"Then why'd you take him back? Maybe he matters to me!"

The captain laughed. "Tell me you're not serious. Pirates don't get attached to weak boys. One of my crewmen told me that the boy was telling the most ridiculous lie. He said that you were the one who bandaged him up."

"He was telling the truth, and I've already told him that I am serious. This boy matters to me, and if you say that pirates can't get attached to people, then you have a pretty bad idea of what kind of person I am."

Koenma watched Jack in awe. He was standing up to the captain for him. He really was serious! He looked towards the fire and saw a sword lying near it. He hesitantly reached out and took it. The two older men watched him.

"You want to defeat your past, mate?" Jack asked softly. Koenma nodded.

"I need to, Jack. I'm finally starting to feel like I matter again, and I've been through too much to do nothing."

The other captain watched them warily, putting a hand on his sword. Koenma studied his sword for a moment, then put it down.

"I need to do something, but I'd feel terrible if I had to kill a person to feel better…" His gaze fell on the captain. "I have a request."

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Because Jack has a pistol. Now I don't care what you do from now on, but I want you to tell your friends that this Child is through. I am free."

Koenma then left the room, heading up to the deck. Jack followed him after a moment, giving a glare to the other captain.

YYF14: Okay, I hope you guys liked this chapter. Next chapter finally starts explaining past things, so I think it'll be fairly long. As I said before, it'll be up hopefully soon, but it mostly depends on whether my brothers let me have the computer today. Anyway, see you guys later and review if you wish!