Ahoy me hearties! A thousand apologies for the tardiness. this, here, writer seems to have lost her way in the tides of inspiration. Fear not though, I have found me way!

Enjoy!

"Let's try this again, love. Who are you?"

When he smiled before, he seemed dangerous. Now that that smirk is gone, I feel like just breathing wrong can get me killed. His eyes peer into mine, making each of my muscles feel numb. His hand holding my face burns my skin. His grip on my jaw is so tight, I'm afraid the bone will snap. It hurts. And it's nothing compared to what he can do. That much, I am certain of. I try glancing at Mokuba, currently restrained by the quartermaster.

"I won't ask again," says the captain. I must've been quiet for too long. "Bakura…"

"Yugi!" I shout in desperation. "I'm…I'm Yugi."

Thank God that's enough to get his attention back.

"Yugi. That's half a name," he replies mercilessly.

"I have no other name!" That's a lie. But it might as well be the truth. I haven't spoken my last name in forever. Twelve years actually. "I-I'm just Yugi."

He just stares at me for a few seconds, and I have no clue how to read that face. Finally, after an eternity, that smirk of his returns and his hand loosens a bit.

"Alright," he says, his thumb rubbing against my jaw. "And him?"

"Mokuba…" My voice dies in my throat. I can't tell him that he's a noble and even less that he's a Kaiba, but it's obvious enough with his clothes that he's from an easy background. Wait. His clothes… "Von Schroeder."

"What was that?"

"He's Mokuba… von Schroeder."

"Oi, isn't that the name of that rich noble family in Kingtown?" asks the pointy-haired pirate to Bakura.

"Aye, but they aren't noble," replies the quartermaster. "They're plenty rich and influential though. Sell european fabric all over the Caribbean."

The more they talk, the more I'm amazed. These pirates… they know so much. Too much in fact. But how? What kind of murderous thief cares about where his tribute came from? The captain of the Millennium finally lets go of me and stands back up to face Mokuba.

"You're Siegfried von Schroeder's brother?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I hold my breath. If he knows more than that, then…

"They're my cousins," mumbles the twelve-year old.

Moki's shaking. I can see his lips trembling from here. But the way he looks at the captain reminds me so much of Seto. The boy is as quick witted and sharp as his brother. And that might just be what will save our lives. That was an excellent choice of answer. He's managed to justify the way he's dressed and distance himself from a direct relation with wealthy people. My relief doesn't last long though. The captain turns to me again, arms crossed on his chest.

"Tell me something, 'just Yugi'. What does a crossdressing sixteen year old nameless girl doing hiding on a merchant ship with a fake lordling?"

How on earth did he get all of that information by just asking for our names? First he's the first person ever to see through my disguise and now he knows my age too. I was right. This man is no ordinary pirate. He's miles apart from all the others.

"How do you know…"

"I ask the questions. You answer them. It's apparent that you two know each other fairly well."

"H-He snuck onboard and I went looking for him." No point lying about that. Getting too far from the truth will only cause us to get mixed up in our own lies. "The boat left before I could find him and we got stuck here."

"How do you two relate?"

"I'm… his family's ward."

I want to hit myself at every bit of information that comes out of my mouth. It's like handing over a blade to someone who's trying to kill you. I only now notice that a small crowd of pirates has gathered around us. Their mutters become louder as they look at us. What now? Whatever they're planning to do to us, it can't be good. We have to escape a soon as possible. The captain then clicks his tongue a couple of times while looking back and forth between the both of us.

"A rich child and a midget lady. Not what I'd call the best catch."

"That's why you should've let me shoot them the first time," retorted the quartermaster. "Just give them to another crew and be done with it."

The moment he says that, a hundred pair of eyes are on me and I feel sick. I'm not a fool, I know what'll happen if they decide to give me away like a piece of meat to a pack of wolves. This is bad. Really, really bad.

"You know what makes a crew work?" asks the captain to the both of us, with a serious face this time. "When everyone has a purpose. Meaning you're either useful, worth enough by simply existing or at least, entertaining. Can either of you work any part of a ship?"

"…"

"Thought so. The boy could make a decent powder monkey, I suppose, but I've no particular need for you. And pardon me, but to put it mildly, you're… far too dull. Selling you is the best thing I can think of."

"You can't…"

"I can do anything I please, love. It's one of the many perks of being a gentleman of fortune."

"You wouldn't be talking to her like that if she had a sword!"

All eyes turned to the boy who is glaring daggers at the tan man.

"What's that half-pint?"

"My brother taught her swordsmanship himself. There's no way she'd lose to scum like you in a fair fight! You're just a coward!"

The captain's face suddenly darkens and his smile widens. "Is that so? You've been taught by your guardians to fight? Why is that?"

Good question. I don't even know that. Seto was adamant about me and Moki being able to protect ourselves. Another measure to hide who I am too. In any case, the pirate doesn't press the matter. Instead, he grabs my shirt and I gasp when he brusquely pulls me up to my feet.

"Alright, you have my attention. Why don't you show me?"

He's interested now. For our survival, that's a good thing. But what then? If I fight him and win, there's no way we'd escape the other pirates. But now thanks to Moki, I have a bargaining chip. A meager one, though.

"W-Why would I fight you?"

A heavy silence follows my words and my breath seems to be the loudest noise around. I clench my fists to minimize the shaking and force myself to look at him in the eyes. Mutters go around again but I ignore them. Only he needs to hear me. He looks at me surprised.

"Gutsy of you to refuse the one who holds your life in his hand. Do you not wish for a chance to entertain me and prolong your time under my protection? Or is it the prospect of being killed that frightens you?"

"It won't change anything," I say, slowly to avoid stuttering (and fail). "E-Even if I fight you and win, it'll change nothing. We'll still be at the mercy of you, pirates. Why would I fight you if it changes nothing to our fate?"

It's getting so hot that my face is on fire and my throat feels drier than sand. Yet, simultaneously, cold shivers shake me all over but I forbid myself from looking away. His smile returns. He knows what I'm getting at. No going back now that I've opened my mouth.

"If I win, you'll let us go, unharmed."

"Are you bargaining with me, girl?"

His voice seems to have become deeper. 'Girl'. Not 'love' anymore. The simple change in appellation makes the godawful pressure on my shoulders double in weight. Either I've angered him and dug my own grave or he's trying to intimidate me. I bite the inside of my lip, hoping that the pain will help keep the fear at bay if only a little. I can't go back now. All or nothing. In a game where you've already lost, it's the only thing to do. Something drips from my forehead down the side of my face.

"Yes, I am."

Almost as soon as the words leave my mouth, he starts laughing. A loud, clear laugh that fills the whole cavern and makes me hold my breath in anticipation. At this point, I have no idea what to expect of him.

"Cheeky," he says, crossing his arms on his chest. "I can't decide if you're quick witted or stupid. That wasn't a bad try. However, don't you think I have the best bargaining chip right here?"

With a sign of the head he points towards Mokuba. It's true. If he threatens to hurt him, then I have no choice but to do what he says. My heart nearly stops when he takes a small knife out of the leather wrist brace of his left hand and points it at Moki's throat.

"I could just threaten to cut off his limbs and you'd bend to my will instantly."

It hits me. The game. That's what this man likes. He's waiting to see what I'd do when I'm cornered. Otherwise, he'd have just threatened Moki from the start, like he did when he was questioning me. With blind faith, I throw my last chip. Please God, let this work.

"Then you're a coward running from a fight."

This time, the mutters going around are loud and I feel shocked and murderous glares on me. There's a collective outrage being spread which is just what I need. Another thing Seto has taught me —unbeknownst to himself— is that pride is an easy target of men.

"You little wench…" begins the quartermaster.

He stops when the captain chuckles again. This time however, there's a fire burning in the tan man's eyes. Wether from excitement or anger, I can't tell.

"So what you're saying now, is that I have no choice but to fight you and comply to your demands," he states.

In two steps, he closes the distance between us, and grabs my upper arm and makes me turn my back to him. Panic shakes me and I brace for a shock. Is this it? Is he going to kill me? But just as quickly, he releases me and I realize that my hands are free. Pieces of rope fall to my feet and I rub my aching wrist to get the blood flowing again.

"I accept your challenge and your terms. If you beat me, I'll release you and the boy, without a scratch. I'll even escort you to the nearest port-town. However, if I win…" With a swift and slow movement, he unsheathes his sword and points the tip at my throat. "I'll take your arm."

The threat sinks in, and my insides tighten so much that I want to vomit again. I've gotten myself into this foolish gamble. It still remains the only thing I can do. So I also have no choice but to accept his term. One arm… compared to Moki's life, it's nothing.

"I-I accept," I say, as more sweat drops drip down my face.

He then addresses the pirates around. "Clear the quarterdeck, scrubs!"

Immediately, the pirates come down from the second highest deck on the ship. The captain walks up the wooden stairs and I follow him up. The quartermaster, along with Jack and Taylor follow us up with Mokuba.

"Bakura," calls out the tan man. "Give her your cutlass."

The white-haired man rolls his eyes, clearly displeased at the idea. But he unsheathes his weapon and walks up to me to hand it over without adding anything more than a deadly glare. The weapon feels weird. It's old, rusty and feels slightly heavier than what I'm used to fencing with. The most disturbing however, is the aura. I feel disgusted by it. I can almost smell the iron from all the blood this weapon has spilled. Nevertheless, for this fight, the fight that I have to win no matter what, this is my blade. I clench my hand on the handle and tests out it's flexibility. It's perfectly balanced, despite it's aged appearance. An old but good sword.

"As I am the challenged," says the captain, getting my attention, "I shall make up the rules."

I immediately stare at him with mistrust.

"First, we'll fight only with swords. No guns, no knives. Second, the first person to let go of their sword loses." Simple enough, straightforward. "Third, dealing death is also an acceptable way to win."

I flinch. That means that if I kill him, his men will have to follow up on his promise. But it also means that I can die, and leave Moki alone at the hands of these people.

"Fear not. I have no intention whatsoever of killing you." Somehow, that's even worse. "Bakura will give the signal."

Now I get it… So this is an invitation for me to try to kill him. He's overconfident and underestimating me. With that, he gets on guard, blade raised. He has no particular stance. In fact, he looks too relaxed. This can be either very good or very bad for me. I glance one last time at Mokuba who's watching from the sidelines with the other pirates. He's looking at me with eyes filled with apprehension and seriousness.

"Paratus sum!" he shouts at me.

Paratus sum. Ready for anything. The family motto. Yes. That's what I have to remember. Everything Seto spent years teaching me. It has to pay off now or never. I face the captain. He's still smiling, and his eyes have that intense stare that could still make me look away.

"No enemy is invincible." Says the Seto of my memories. "Remember; appear invincible and remind your opponent that he's mortal. If he's mortal, you can kill him."

For someone like Seto, filled with confidence to the eyebrows, it's easy to look down on and impress an opponent. I take a breath, wipe the sweat off and raise my sword to my face, placing my left hand behind my back. I salute. It amuses him.

"How proper. I'm guessing your teacher has some relation to the navy."

Again, not wrong. Seto, has gone to military school. But now's not the time to try and figure out how exactly he can read my mind. He's dangerous but he's just a man. I need to humanize him. So I can win. So I can free Moki and myself. He steps to the side and I mimic his movement. We circle around each other, like wolves ready to fight. I decide to risk a question

"You know my name. What's yours?"

To my surprise, he doesn't hesitate to answer. "Atem Sennen, captain of the Millennium, at your service."

He bows in a mocking fashion, making the other pirates watching laugh. I ignore them. Atem. He's Atem. He's human. He's mortal. I have a chance. I can win. I can't lose. I'm not aloud to lose. The quartermaster fires his gun. We close close the distance between us. I deviate a blow aimed at my head and one meant to run me through. His attacks are quick and precise, but nothing I'm not used to. What surprises me, is the lack of strength.

'He's much shorter than Seto. Shorter than most men here, actually. Was I expecting a monstrous strength because of his overwhelming aura? Either way, I can't win by just evading.'

I deviate another strike and taking the opening, aim to slash his torso. He evades with a swift jump back.

"Not bad, love, not bad. You have the basics down. Let's try and pick up the pace, shall we?"

Next thing I know, the tip of his sword is darting for my face. I move but not quick enough, and when I readjust my stance, I feel something warm and thick leak on my cheek. A jolt of realization strikes me. Before was a warm up. I don't even get the time to breath, he's already on me again, lowering himself to slice his blade across my stomach. I jump back, nearly tumbling but when I think I have my footing back, he's practically kneeling on the ground, swinging his weapon to attack my feet. I jump again, practically bringing my knees to my torso to avoid the attack. I barely land and have to block another series of strikes to my shoulder, head and neck. My back then hits the edge of the Whale. I've been pushed this far back already? If it weren't for me being used to Seto's devilish training, I'd be dead just now. Because of my size, he's privileged teaching me dodging and evading over anything else. That just saved my life. Here he comes!

This time, he raises his blade and brings it down towards my head. I raise mine and block it. I have to use both hands and lean on the edge to keep him from pushing me to the ground. His eyes are still burning with that same strange fire.

"The boy wasn't lying. You've got reflexes, love. Any less, and you'd have died. You're footwork is especially commendable. But how long can you keep up? You won't be get anywhere by just dodging."

My heart is pounding so hard that it hurts, and loud panting escapes my mouth. What a fool I've been. I should've listened to my first instinct. His strength might be average but speed is his real advantage. And I thought Seto was fast. At this point, my gamble feels like the stupidest decision I could've made. Did I ever stand a chance against this monster? He puts more pressure on his blade and brings his face so close, I can feel his breath on my mine.

"I've seen enough. Why not give up now? It's a lot less work and the result will be the same."

New sweat drops stream down my face and then my eyes meet Moki's on the other side of the quarterdeck. Now that the attention is away from him, the brave front has fallen. He's so scared. As scared as me. Just imagining him at the hands of these men… that prospect is the most terrifying thing.

"Tell me, how much do you think he'll be worth on the market of the sweet trade?"

His words make me bite my lower lip and a new wave of angry energy courses through me. Simultaneously, Seto's words ring in my head.

"When you fight for your life, when nothing else matters, forget about being fair. There's no such thing as a fair fight. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself alive."

"Go to hell…" I mutter back to the pirate.

Twisting my wrist, shifting my blade's angle so that his own slips down it. With pure spontaneity, I grab his collar with my free hand and slam my forehead into the middle of his face. He brings a hand to his face as the blood drips down and tumbles back a few steps, leaving himself wide open.

'Now!'

I raise the cutlass, aiming straight for his neck… then pain. Pain shoots through my right arm, spreading to my shoulder and the rest of my body in mere instant. I freeze, unable to grasp what is happening. Slowly, I look down to find that the pirate's blade has gone through my upper arm like butter. How… I had the perfect opening. Why… How did…When…

"Sorry, love. Too slow."

Mercilessly, he rips the sharp piece of metal out. The pain intensifies a hundredfold. A scream tears through my throat and I find myself on my knees, staring at my limb, quickly being covered in red. I try to cover the wound with my free hand, but the thick liquid escaped through my fingers.

"Yugi!"

Mokuba's voice sounds so distant. It hurts. It hurts so bad that it burns. Images of a bright fire come to mind. No. No. Not again. Not this again. Breathing becomes harder and my throat is on fire. For the first time in years, my scars hurt. Tears mix with the set dripping down my face. The captain admires his handy work, while blood drips down his nose, coloring even his teeth. He licks it and shivers travel down my spine.

"Cursing and underhanded tactics? You'd make a better pirate mistress than a lord's wife, wouldn't you say? Nevertheless, this is my victory." His voice is distant too. The tip of his blade then comes up to caress my throat. "Drop it."

Drop it? Drop what? I follow his eyes and my own widen. My right hand is still clenching the cutlass. It's shaking and I can't feel it. But it's there, holding on.

"I…haven't lost?'

He speaks again, but I can't make out what he's saying. I haven't lost. I haven't lost yet.

"This duel only ends with one of us surrendering or dying," says Atem. "There's no other way."

Slowly, I unclench my hand from the handle, moving one finger at the time. The lack of blood can be felt.

"Yes, there is," I say.

With whatever strength is left in my right arm, I toss the cutlass into my left hand. I move his blade out of the way, and pushing myself up, thrust my weapon towards his side. His eyes widen in shock and he moves, but not fast enough. The blade bites into his side, through his clothes and immediately after, the red of his coat darkens around that area. It worked! I shift my stance and face him again, my right arm spilling red at every movement.

For the first time, the captain has an air of surprise about him, as he holds his wounded side. He just stares at it then me. I should attack while he's like that. But I take a step and my vision blurs. The blood leaking from my arm is still flowing abundantly, at an alarming speed. My legs start shaking and I fight to stay up. It's the pain. The pain is growing.

'Come Yugi, you have to focus. For Moki. For Seto. Stay strong, come on!'

"We're done here."

Next thing I know, the pirate is right in front of me. He seizes my wrist and twists it until I let go of my weapon. Just like that, it's over. I've lost. No. That can't be. Not after all of that. Atem lets go off my wrist and I find myself on my knees again, trembling in pain and shock.

"You're full of surprises," he says, as if the wound I've inflicted on him is but a scratch. "I never expected you to get up after that wound. Or be ambidextrous for that matter. I changed my mind, you're far from dull, Yugi."

"Yugi!"

Mokuba, who the pirates seem to have neglected to watch, runs to my side and grabs my arm. He immediately removed his jacket and presses it against the wounds to stop the bleeding. I look at him, tears of shame and fear escaping my eyes.

"I'm so sorry…"

The look he throws back to me is a helpless one and he seems like he's about to cry to. But he then grits his teeth and turns to the captain.

"Y-You don't want her to die, right?" He tells the tan man, with as much confidence as he can muster up. "You need to clean her wound. I-If not, it'll get infected and it could spread all sorts of disease to all of you."

A hand closes on his hair and to my horror, the quartermaster pulls him away from me. He cries out in pain. "You entitled little bastard, who the hell do you think you are?"

"Wait," says the captain. "How would you go about a wound like hers?"

The way he spoke was just like when he bargained with me. It's a test. A way to get information.

"Alcohol to disinfect the wound and apply pressure to stop the bleeding," recites Moki as if he's reciting a manual. This is part of the things Seto had made him learn. "If the pressure doesn't work, use gunpowder and light it to make it scar."

The captain smiles, seemingly satisfied. "You may have some worth after all, lad. Let him go, Bakura."

With that, he reaches into his coat and pulls out a round metal flask. After opening it, he grabs my arm and pours the content on my wound. Immediately, it burns like my arm is on fire again, so much that each of my muscle tenses up. I clench my teeth and it takes all my will not to scream. But I can't keep strangled winces from escaping me. The sting remains even after he's emptied the flask. The captain then tells Moki to bandage me up with a cloth he hands him.

"What about you?" asks the quartermaster. "You waiting to bleed to death, you moron?"

"Aye, captain. T'bleeds a lot…" adds Jack.

"It's only a graze, I can manage."

That sentence alone makes me want to cry again. What now? I've wasted my only bargaining chip on a one-sided duel and we were still at the mercy of those pirates.

'Seto,' I think, 'I'm sorry. I'm useless.'

"Defeat tastes bitter, doesn't it?" says the pirate, while Moki bandages me up. "Consider yourself lucky. You've caught my interest."

"Why are you healing me if you're going to cut my arm off?" I ask, looking away.

"I said I'd take your arm. I am taking it. Along with everything attached to it."

Confusion comes over me. I don't understand this man. Should I be grateful that he spared my arm, or should I brace for what is coming next? No matter the case, Moki and I are still alive and mostly in one piece. And if we want it to stay that way, we're going to have to be smart about it. Mokuba's medical knowledge is what caught their attention. Seto always says that what pirates lack the most are real medics on their crews. Me? As long as the Captain finds me interesting, I'll have some worth too.

'This is insane. What are we to do?'

A chuckle makes me look up. Atem. is looking right at me, with that 'I-can-read-your-mind' stare from before. It's official. I've never met a man as terrifying as the one in front of me.

"You're welcomed to try anything you want. Just be prepared for consequences."

"Laugh while you can, pirate," says Mokuba, putting up his brave front shield. "My brother will find us and he'll make you pay."

"Moki…" I warn.

But the captain only seems amused by the threat. "Speaking of, love, why is it that you've been taught swordsmanship? It's quite unusual. The only reason I can think that a woman be taught this in a rich family, is to be sure she can protect herself in any situation. What are your guardians protecting?"

By the heavens above, who is this person? I'm starting to consider the fact that he can actually read into my mind.

"I-I don't know," I say, looking away.

"Seems you haven't quite learned yet. Lying to me is just one of the things that'll end in punishment."

He extends a hand towards my head and reflexively, I move to avoid it, but not before he grips my headscarf. It stays in in his hand while my hair falls out.

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