A.N. – Heya guys! Miss me? *dodges tomatoes and other veggies being thrown at her* Okay! Okay! I know! Bad, Seruleyan, bad. Well, I hope that this makes it up! If not, well, deal with it. Just kidding! Anyway, just as a heads up, after this chapter, it'll start getting good. So hold on and keep those reviews comin' in! Luv ya'll!

Now, here's a shout outs to all those kind souls who reviewed last time! Yay!

daisy31 – Thanks for being a fan! I really appreciate new reviewers! I was a little unsure if I should have done the Italian/ Spanish language thing at first, but then decided that it would make for a more original, romantic fic if I did that, so I did.

And who knew I'd get so many people! ^^ Anyway, don't worry about Trunks and the orbs, they shall appear soon. Just keep reading and hope you enjoy!

jen 123 - Thanks for the encouragement! I could always use some of that! Enjoy this chappie and review it for me! Thanks for being a fan! ^o^/

Princess Bulma – I know! I love pirates too! Pirates of the Caribbean is one of my all-time favorite movies! Rock on!

DBZ-fan-JESS – Wasn't the glowing red eye thing a stroke of genius? Makes for a more interesting plot, don't you think? He will play in again soon, fear not. Creepy red eye and all!

SilverWing145 – Sorry if this counts as keeping you waiting too long! And I hope that this makes it up…B/V is in here! Yay! Please enjoy every last drop! ^^

Shades of Crimson – Girl! I think that that's the longest review you've given me yet! You rock! *high five* Anyway, you an keep guessing, but I will never tell. You should start IMing me, and then maybe I'll divulge to you some secrets…but I don't want to give it all away! So many twists, it has, and it just keeps getting better! I try to do a good BV job, and I hope the BV in here satisfies you for the time being. Not enough even for me, but there shall be more to come. (Unless my readers kill me first…) But I seriously love you guys! You are my inspiration! *blows kisses* Finally! There was no game! No, LOL just kidding! Enjoy reading, kid! ^_~

PANDORA001 – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *ducks from mudball* Ick! Now that's playing dirty! *wipes mud off face* Yup, new creepy guy (NCG for short) is definitely going to have a major role in this, whether he be good or bad. We all shall see, eh? Oh, almost forgot. *throws paintballs* Mwahahahahaha! Take that! :P

Desta – OMG you too? I LOVE going there! She has such awesome stuff! In fact, some of the DBZ quotes on my page are from that site! Isn't it awesome?! That pic does kinda resemble my fic, huh? I LOVE her dress! People back then had the coolest clothes and dresses! So elegant and charming…BUT yeah. Don't mind me! It's the chapter you came to read, isn't it? LOL

Chapter VI

The only sources of light for the room were two oil-burning lamps, one in the center of the large wooden table and the other one hanging from the ceiling. The light illuminated two men, other than him, seated at the table; looking over an old map that stretched from one end of the table to the other. The topic at hand was to discuss the best route to New Providence, but, unfortunately, not every man in the room had their mind on the topic. Oh no, their mind was on more…appeasing matters.

Like that Italian girl.

Yamcha really had no desire to be at this meeting, or even be on this ship for that matter. The only true reason he had even joined the Dragon's crew was for the notorious fame and fear it had brought him. After he had become affiliated with the pirate, he went from low-time thief, to feared entity. But because he was a part of the Dragon's crew, by no means did that mean he had to like him. In fact, he couldn't stand him. And ever since he kidnapped the Italian heiress, his hatred had grown even more.

He was a man, and he knew all well the looks that he gives to her. The way he would watch her from his cabin window or obliviously behind her as she did her chores. It sickened him. There was no way that the evil buccaneer would ever be good enough for someone like her. She was royalty, a princess. She should be treated as a goddess, not as a slave. No way would she ever want to be with an evil, filthy pirate like Vejita. She deserved someone like him. Someone who understood her and knew how to properly treat a lady. Someone who could make her happy and show her that not all men were sea faring idiots.

Looking across the table, he could tell by the look in his master's eye where his imagination was wandering. His tan lips held a faint smirk as he swept a pearly quill over his chin across lips. His starless black eyes filled the thoughts of a luxurious night alone with the beryl-jeweled princess.

How repulsive.

Ignoring his captain's daydreaming, he turned back to the matter at hand. Somebody had to be the intelligent person in this mob.

"So which do you think is best, the eastern route or the southern route?"

Yamcha's attention jolted forward as he suddenly sat up in his chair, causing it to snap on the ground and awaken the other bodies in the room. Myers, the old salt that made the maps and suggested the routes, continued to stare blankly at him waiting for an answer. Running his fingers through his charcoal main, he glimpsed down at the map for awhile, studying the different marks and charts, until he finally responded.

"I think we should use the southern route to avoid all the British merchant ship traffic. The last thing we need is her majesty's royal navy riding our sails."

"But the merchant ships carry supplies, rum, food, and sometimes gold. I think that the eastern route is better. We're damn near out of rum." Sully interjected. Sully was an overweight mapmaker, who, like any old man in this day and age, loved three things: women, rum, and money. The more of each you had, the better off you were according to him. The only reason the captain kept him was that he was a brilliant mapmaker and knew the sea like it was the back of his hand.

Then the captain spoke up to give the final word.

" We'll have plenty of time for re-stocking in New Providence. Until then, we take the southern route. The last time we took the eastern route, you imbeciles," the Black Dragon's gaze immediately fell on Yamcha "almost sunk my ship and nearly got half of my crew hung." Yamcha matched the captain's glare as the dark pirate stood to his feet and sauntered out of the cabin. He has spoken, and it shall be done.

The young bandit growled under his breath as he watched his chief blow out of the room just as mysteriously as he blew in.

"Bastard…" he grumbled to himself. He wasn't one to toot his own horn, but he was pretty damn good at what he did on this ship. But the captain was never pleased with his duties. He could outdo the best there was, and still be shoved underfoot.

'Well it won't be that way forever. As soon as I get the chance, I'm running. But I'm not going alone.'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sitting up, she stretched out her dishpan fingers and took a deep sigh of the salty sprayed air.

'Wow. And I thought that the tyrannical jerk couldn't think of any new ways to torture me. My hands feel like I've soaked them in water then dried them with sand.' The heiress complained to herself as she took a five-minute break. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself back on James' ship, reliving her last few moments with him. A soft smile graced her lips and she could almost smell the cologne he wore that night.

'Damn fate. There had better be a good reason for me to be in this predicament, or else when I die, somebody is going to pay!'

Opening her cerulean blue orbs, she gazed without bravado at her new home. Or is it a prison? It really doubles as both. Sighing, she stood up and stretched all fours. Bending over all day long really puts a crick in your spine.

"Queenie?" her newfound nickname coined by Quillian sung from behind her. Frowning, she spun around on her heels and gave him an annoyed look.

"How many times have I told you not to call me that, you sponge-haired brat!" she griped, throwing her brush at him. Quillian laughed and turned his shoulder and arm up protectively.

"Sponge-haired? I think you've been out in the sun too long queenie."

"Stop calling me queenie! And it's not my fault I've been in the sun too long! Go thank Captain Stick-up-his-ass." She retorted, running her fingers through her hair. The fair-haired boy softly giggled at her annoyance.

"Speaking of the captain, he wants to see you in his cabin straight away."

"Oh, goodie."

Quillian giggled once more. Gazing at her with dancing icy-blue eyes, he seated himself on a wooden barrel and watched her retreating figure. A mischievous grin crept on his face as he decided to let her go with one more last comment.

" Come back in one piece!"

She scoffed, and waived her hand dismissively at him without turning around. And suddenly, for reasons unknown, her heart began to pick up beat, and she found herself playing with the tattered cloth of her dress.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Vejita glared at the note that lay beneath his gaze. He was so frustrated with this damn thing that it was about to drive him mad. Usually, he was a genius when it came to puzzles, but this one was different somehow. Oh, to hell with it all. If his mind wasn't on the cryptic poem, it was on that woman, and both were undeniably inscrutable.

"Damn it all." He said to himself as he combed his fingers through his raven-black hair.

His ears detected light footsteps walking towards his cabin. Raising his head, the dark pirate turned his gaze to the door. There was a small knock.

"Enter."

The door was pushed open, and she walked in. She, the demon goddess that had been haunting his dreams, stepped inside, and gave him a what-the-heck-do-you-want look by crossing her arms across her beautifully rounded chest. An evil smirk tapered on his lips as he stood to his feet, and mockingly bowed to her.

" Knock it off, smart ass. What do you want?"

Vejita stood up and walked over to her, wagging his finger at her. "Now I know that you were raised to speak better than that."

"What do you know about good breeding? The only good breeding you could possibly know is…." The black pirate quickly cut her off.

"Watch your language in my presence, woman." He spoke in a stern and scary tone that made her purse her lips together instantly. Now, down to business.

" Woman, Bulma…"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Why did the way he said her name make her skin tingle? The way her name rolled off of his tongue like honey, the way he bathed every consonant in her name with that lavish accent of his. It surrounded her in a feeling indigenous to her emotions, and ironically enough, she liked it.

Meeting his obsidian gaze, she couldn't help but wonder…what the hell she was doing thinking about his eyes! Mentally slapping herself, she scolded her mind.

'You hate this guy! Don't think about his eyes! Look somewhere else!'

Biting the inside of her lip, she became oblivious to whatever he was talking about. Her eyes couldn't help but wander under his eyes, under his neck, under his rippled, sinew chest, down to… * big mental slap*

'Stare at something else in the room, nimrod, in the room! Staring at his body will only get you in trouble. Although he does have a nice…" *giant mental slap*

"Woman?" his sharp call averted her attention back to reality, and where she first noticed that the blood had suddenly rushed to her cheeks. The embarrassed heiress slowly tilted her head away from his view.

"Something wrong, señora?"

The blue haired heiress vigorously shook her head from side to side. Vejita arched a regal black brow at her, but she just kept her head turned away from meeting his gaze.

"I can't help but get the feeling, Lady Bulma,

'Dammit, don't say my name! If only you knew what that did, I know you wouldn't say it…or would you?'

Foolishly looking up to meet his gaze, what happened was what she feared would happen. They were locked on each other.

'Oh no. There goes my knees…'

Staring at each other, not really looking at our eyes, but our passions. And it was strange because in that instant, I saw his passion. His passion for those stupid meaningless orbs, his passion for dominance and self-satisfaction, his passion to become the best there ever was and leave his mark on history and for narrowly avoiding capture, but most of all, his passion to be free. And it was so weird, because, she felt almost as if, she knew all of this about him all along.

This was too weird for words.

But he continued to stare into her eyes, soaking up everything inside her like a sponge. Bulma wanted to pull her gaze away, stop this madness and unfamiliar emotions, but she couldn't. Her whole body seemed to be glued to the wooden planks she stood on. She was stuck, frozen like a statue.

'What is this strange, magnetic power he has over me?'

Before she could think of anything else, she found herself drawn close to the dark dragon. Dangerously close. His lips hovered over hers, as his half-closed charcoal eyes gazed down at her with a look that sent fierce tingles up her spine.

"Still wondering why I called you into my cabin, woman?" he whispered huskily to her.

"Yeah…" she softly answered, partially unable to speak, much less think.

'Whatever happens, happens.'

Snaking his arm around her waist he pulled her even closer to him, making her heart jump to her throat and her breath suck in with fear, along with a great many other emotions.

" Then here it is…"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Well guys, it seems that I have a case of cliffie-itus. Yeah, it only affects authors and they have compulsive actions to write cliffhangers at the end of their long-awaited for chapters. So sorry…AAHH! *hides behind table with Pandora* GUYS! What about if I promise to update sooner?! Which I do! A sooner update, with more stuff! ^^;;; Does that make it better? Guys?

Well, at least review for me, 'kay? Ja ne!

*~*

Griffyn ^_~ (MY copyrighted wink-y face! hah!)