Ahoy mateys! Again, this here author must apologies for the tardiness. Me computer still be actin' up and school assignments are piling' up. In any case, enjoy the ride, me hearties!

(Sorry for the typos, I really don't have time to go over it. I'll rectify them at a later date.)

The strange sensation doesn't leave me. It's almost physical, tugging me towards the open sea in the direction of Kingtown. The wind in my face dries my eyes but I refuse to blink for fear of missing something. Who is it? Who's calling for me?

"Oi!" The hand suddenly landing on my shoulder makes me jump. "What are ya doin'? D'ya loose a screw or somethin'?"

Joey —with Jaden at his side— is looking at me like I've gone insane. All I've done is lean over a little. I straighten up and then realize that I have one knee on the edge. I get off backing away a few steps. What am I doing? Anyone seeing me would think I'm trying to jump.

"I know ya want to escape but were in the middle of the bloody ocean. Were ya hopin' to swim back or what? That's more suicidal than desperate."

I don't reply and stare back in the same direction. There still isn't any ship in sight. I'm not crazy. I know I felt something. I still feel it. Seto's looking for us. I'm sure of it. I don't know how, but I do. I was wrong before. I can still hear the sea and it's on my side.

"Oi, ya doin' good?" says Jaden, waving a hand in front of my face. "Ya're spacin' out like a drunk fish."

"I… I'm fine." Having the pirate worry about my condition feels more strange than anything. Come now Yugi. Now's not the time to let your guard down. "I thought I saw something."

"Like what, a rescue ship, eh?" mocks the boy with one hand. "Best get it outta yer mind now, missy. Ain't no one that be capable o' catchin' us."

An image of the cave's entrance crumbling down flashes in my mind. I bite my lip to prevent the pessimistic thoughts from invading my mind. I have to stay on my feet. Seto is looking for us and he's going to find us. He's gotten himself out of ugly situations before. This… is the worst any of us could've imagined. But I have only one mission. Survive and protect Moki until Seto finds us. For that, I need them to lower their guard.

"I'll just…finish stitching the sail," I tell them but as I take a step, someone calls out to the two pirates.

"Oi! Joey, Jaden!"

A group of five pirates —most of which I don't recognize— cross the main deck and come our way. Some of them are carrying wooden practice swords. I don't know why it surprises me. After all, every good crew has to have a decent amount of swordsmen and fighters, even a pirate one. The fact that they would practice seems logical. The one leading the group —a man with a white head scarf and a missing tooth— approaches us.

"The two o' ye don't look so busy. Come practice with us, ye slackers."

"No can do, Neal," replies the first mate. "Gotta watch the lass."

"Takes two of ye to watch a her? Just take turns."

"Why don't ye just ask Bakura?" asks Jaden. "He be second only to the captain."

"Already have. Sent us to hell before goin' to sleep."

"Can't blame the man. He hasn't slept in days. I'm surprised ya're still kickin' after botherin' him."

They laugh but for some reason I feel like it isn't something to be amused about. Between the captain and the quartermaster, I'm not sure which is the most terrifying. I can't understand the former and the latter seems like he'd kill us without a second thought if it weren't for his orders.

"Honest though, help a couple o' hearties out. The captain'll have our skin if we don't catch up to ye. The two o' ye are the only decent fighters available."

The statement didn't surprise me when talking about Joey. He appears strong and confident but Jaden… The boy is short scrawny and well, only had one hand.

"Ya know I ain't gon' be any help," says Joey, seriously this time. "Swords aren't my thing."

Is he only a gunman? Or maybe specialized in other types of weaponry? Seto's private guards all use the same weapons, but I suppose pirates would just use whatever they are more comfortable with.

"Curses. How 'bout ye, Jay?"

"Don't wanna. It's nap time for me, sorry fellows," apologizes Jaden with a wide grin. "But hey, here's an idea! Why don't ye take her?"

A stunned silence strikes the entire group including me. He didn't just suggest that I fence with them, did he? The one named Neal finally lets out an unbridled laughter.

"Ye jokster, ye!" he says, slapping the boy in the back. "Ye're the worst o' us, Jay! Throwin' even a lass to the wolves like that!"

I must agree with the pirate. What was he trying to do? Well he is barely older than Mokuba, he mustn't be thinking. Still, the position he's put me in is quite uncomfortable. Before, they were just glancing at my hair while I was attempting to hide behind Joey, cursing the captain for taking my headscarf. Now, all eyes are on me, shamelessly staring.

"Look at her!" exclaims one. "Lassy's so stunned, she lost her tongue."

"Don't be countin' yer chickens yet, Neal,' says Jaden, quite serious. "She dueled the captain. Ain't that right, Mr Wheeler? We all know the captain. The man's a devil with a cutlass. If he wounded her like that, don't it mean that she be pretty handy with a blade too?"

I have no idea what he's talking about. Why would he volunteer me to fight when one of my arms is clearly useless? And why would my injury say anything about how good I am? But his explanation seems to have gotten the attention of the other pirates.

"That true, master first mate?" asks one.

"I know she dueled the cap'n," confirms Joey. "But don't get yar hopes up, hearties. No one's doin' anythin' with her unless the man himself says so."

"Well, I be real curious now," says Neal, taking a stop closer to me. "So tis true? Ye can handle a sword, missy?"

There's the unwanted attention. I look away and don't reply. Indulging them could help put their suspicions of me to sleep but I can't bring myself to play friendly with murderous thieves. Who knows how many people they've killed? How many more will die for their greed?

"What's the matter lil' lass?" says Neal, lowering his head to mine. "We won't bite."

They don't seem to want to leave me alone while all I want is a minimum of interaction with them. I doubt I can get any sort of information out of this group. Aside from Joey, they don't appear to have any particular rank. If they are just ABs, then they won't have any valuable to tell me.

"I'm not interested in fighting you," I say, praying that my voice doesn't squeak. 'I have work to finish and I'm already injured."

"Well how 'bout that, fellows?" he replies seemingly way to happy to have gotten an answer out of me. "A whole speech. So ye really can hold a sword?"

"Yes, I can."

"I wanna see that!"

"Are ya deaf?" says Joey, rolling his eyes. "I said ya can't. Not without the cap'n's permission."

"I'll allow it."

All the attention shifts over to the captain who's approaching. Reflexively, each of my muscles tenses up. Just the face he's making tells me this is going to be another thing for his amusement alone. Does this man have nothing better to do than torment me? You'd think commanding a whole ship would have him a little more busy than this.

"Uh, ya sure that's a good idea, cap'n?" asks Joey, perplexed. "She's still hurt."

"She has one arm left and ambidextrousness as an ace. I doubt a little fencing is what'll bring this lady down. I should know."

Know what? I barely grazed him and he is selling me to his men like some veteran with unparalleled skills. He knew I didn't stand a chance against him from the start. So much for his collection; he is going to kill me!

"Alright, mates!" exclaims Neal, far too excited. "Get in line, I call the first round."

"H-Hold on a minute. I didn't agree to this," I say. "Besides, there's nothing in it for me other than the risk of getting hurt again."

He chuckles at me. "Bargaining to get what you want and turn things to your advantage? How greedy. You're only proving my point, love. You're far more suited for a pirate than for some lord."

"I think my greed is fairly reasonable considering my situation," I reply. "I don't want to hear that from a man who steals for a living."

I regretted my words the moment they left my mouth. Silence has fallen again, and all I can focus on is the darkening stare of the captain. His smile however, doesn't fade one bit and I'm reminded at how terrifying he is. I think of Moki. It looks like being pushed into a corner also makes me talk to much. Finally he moves closer to me and I only realize that I backed away when my back hits the edge of the ship. He stops a step away and leans closer.

"What I find absolutely endearing about you is how easily you forget that your compliance isn't a factor. What if I were to order you to fight? You know what disobeying would entice, don't you?"

The sound of my heartbeat in my ears suddenly becomes louder. He has all the cards and he knows it. Fear is like an invisible hand slowly closing in on my throat. Curse him. Biting my lip, I look down unable to hold his eyes.

"Good girl," he lets out before straightening up. "Since you understand that much, I'll indulge in a new bargain with you. If you can beat three of my men in one-on-one duels, I'll let you see the boy."

I knew it; he was planning to keep us separated. I can tell he's being deliberately vague about his offer. Will he let me see him with no restraints or only for five minutes, I don't know. He's already playing a new game with me and the end is just as much a mystery to me as before. And I have no choice but to comply.

"And… what happens if I lose?"

"You return to your needles and the boy stays where he is. Unless you truly bore me, then I'll have to think of other ways for you to entertain me."

That sentence alone is the last push needed to make me surrender completely. I have no desire to know what lurks behind his mind.

"Since I'm the challenged," I say, remembering our first bargain, "does that mean I get to make up the rules?"

"I'm surprised you remembered that." He pulls up three fingers. "That is correct, you get to pick three."

I glance at the pirates around. The rules need to give me the advantage or at least put me on the same level as my opponent. For our fight, he said death was aloud. We'll be dueling with wooden swords so that's not something to worry about. First things first, to even things out.

"First, your free hand must stay behind the back and not aid you in anyway during the duel," I say. "Second, the winner is the first to hit a vital spot."

That way, not only do I have a chance, but the duel can be quick and painless. I didn't give any precisions as to how strongly one would have to hit to win. Just grazing can get me victory. That's how it works; give three definite rules and find loopholes around them to win. Tricky but very scoundrel worthy. Thinking of a third rule is harder though.

'Death allowed. First person to drop their sword loses…' I think enumerating the rules from my first duel. 'The first one is on the tip of my tongue… Oh, right!'

"Thirdly, no other weapons are allowed."

The moment I dictate the third rule, Atem's smirk turns to an all teeth out smile, and I get the feeling that I've done something horribly wrong.

"Are you sure of yourself?" he asks, tauntingly.

I clench my fists. Putting doubt in my mind is exactly what he's trying to do. I can't let him get to me like this every time.

"Yes."

"You heard the lady, men," he tells the sailors. "Neal, you wanted the first match."

Neal grabs two practice swords from another pirate and hands one over to me. He seems legitimately excited to square off with me. Wether it's the prospect of fighting a woman or a Shayee, I don't know. We move the largest part of the main deck, at the foot of the mainmast. Duels on the deck seems to become a trend. I weighed the sword. It's good quality. Next, I try to raise my wounded arm and flinch. The slightest muscle tension generates pain. I'll have to endure it.

"Ready when ye are, lass. Try makin' it a bit interesting, aye?" He smiles, overconfidently. But contrary to the captain, I can't sense anything backing up that confidence. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on ye."

"Then you're going to lose," I reply, sticking by right hand behind my back and saluting.

Mocking chuckles travel around us. They think it's ridiculous to salute while it gives me courage. It reminds me of everything Seto taught me. Focus Yugi. You have matches to win. I realize that Neal is left handed. That means I lose my reverse stance advantage. But it doesn't matter. His stance is is weak, his feet too close together, his movements are predictable.

"Begin!" orders the captain.

Neal moves first, aiming to hit me in the stomach area. I see him coming. Taking a step back to gain time, I raised my blade and bring it down to deviate his weapon towards the ground. I don't give him time to react and thrust the tip of my sword forward, hitting him right in the solar plexus. He stares at me, frozen in place.

"I win," I say, stepping back.

"Impossible," he replies still under shock. "There's got to be a mistake. I can't lose…"

"If this were a real fight, you'd be dead, Neal," says the captain. "I should have you clean the deck with your tongue for ignoring the first rule of combat. Never underestimate your opponent. If you can't even register that, you're worthless."

The comment makes the sailor visibly sweat buckets. "Apologies, captain. I won't forget again."

Is he giving a lesson? I've been reduced to a learning tool but it doesn't matter. As long as I win, I can see Moki.

"Tristan," calls out Atem. "The second match is yours."

Indeed, the pointy-haired pirate seems to have joined the observers. He doesn't seem to happy about being called out though. He sighs and makes his way to the center and takes Neal's sword. I immediately see the difference. His stance is flawless and though he's not acting like a pompous ass —like all the pirates I've met so far seem to do— I'm instantly on guard.

"I'm warning you, I'm not holding back."

I don't reply but he understands from my face that I take this just as seriously, though I want to end it rather quickly if possible. Atem gives the signal again and I make the first move. He blocks it and steps to the side, which I mirror in the opposite direction. He's faster than Neal, reacting to each of my strikes efficiently. I'm surprised at how easily he adapts to my left handed stance since he's right handed. I get no advantage from it. His strikes are on point and pack enough force but then I notice it. There's a repetitive pattern in his form. One strike towards the head, one towards the chest, and one slice towards the neck, always in that order.

"Patterns are the enemy of every swordsman," says yet again the voice of my sword master in my head. "If you have a pattern, you're predictable. If you're predictable, all your opponent has to do is find the opening in your pattern and you're done for."

I let him push me back, only defending my vital spots. A classic but efficient trap. There he goes. I dodge the strike to the head, deviate the one towards my chest… Here it comes! He raises his blade to "decapitate" me. I drop to the ground and throw myself forward the moment the blade passes over my head, slicing my blunt blade on his side. If it had been real, I'd have run him through the stomach.

"Well, I'll be damned," he lets out. For the first time, I see genuine surprise on his face. "I knew someone who's held against the captain for as long as you had to be good, but I admit. Didn't think you'd catch me off guard like this."

Right, he was there during our duel. I completely forgot about it.

"Your pattern is a easy to see as a fire in the night, Tristan," says the captain. "Slack off on training and I'll be the one to run you through."

"Aye Sir. I'll work on it."

I take breath. So far this has gone smoothly. One more and I get to join Moki. Still, though this fight was far less intense than the one with the captain, the strain on my muscles still makes my wound ache.

'Endure it Yugi, come on. Just one more.'

"You're on a winning streak, love. Lets see if you can keep it up."

"Mind if I have the last round?" says a familiar gruff voice that sends shivers down my spine.

The pirates make way for the quartermaster. He seems exhausted. The dark circles under his eyes are so deep it's scary. Yet still, he has that scary half smile.

"I thought you were sleeping," said the captain.

"I was going to but then I realized something. If I sleep now, I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night. The last thing I need is to become a night owl and leave that stupid mutt in charge to have him screw up everything while I'm sleeping."

"Ya wanna say that to my face, albino freak?" growls the first mate. "I'll rip out yar damn throat."

"Bring it, you prick."

"Enough."

One word from the tan man was all it took for the both of them to quiet down. Unbelievable. What makes this man so scary? With the exception of Jaden, he's the shortest out of all of them. Yet he has this overwhelming aura about him. Where does it come from? But right now, Atem's face is serious looking back and forth between me and the quartermaster a couple of times.

"You can have the final match. But behave yourself."

"Don't I always?" he sneers back.

"Bakura."

The captain's voice is a clear warning. There will be consequences if you cross me, is what those ruby eyes say. Even though, they aren't directed at me, my heartbeat pounds in my head like a drum. Bakura makes an irritated face.

"Tch. Fine. What are the rules?"

"Only use the practice sword, no using your free hand and you win if you hit a vital spot."

His nasty smile widens. "You want her to learn, don't you? Perfect."

"Do not make me step in," warns the tan man again.

That creepy smile of his takes over his face and the quartermaster takes Tristan's sword and faces me. Now, I can't ignore it. That murderous aura. It's not like Atem's. The captain's is like an immense pressure on your shoulder. This one… I feel like I could choke just being near it. I mentally shun the feeling as best I can and get on guard. But my hair still stands one the back of my neck.

"Let us see if the little wench is really worth something."

I recognize that stare. He hates me. I don't know why but he absolutely despises me. It's in voice and in his eyes. One would expect it to be the other way around but no. He's the one who wants me dead. Shivers shake me again. This is the first time feeling this unprepared. My instincts are screaming at me to back off. Even more than during my first duel. It's unfathomable that there'd be someone more terrifying than the captain aboard this cursed ship.

'What have I gotten myself into?'

Tristan walks over to Bakura handing him the practice sword and adding something about seriously watching it to him before joining the crowd. There's a heavy silence and a tension spreading to everyone around. Even the captain isn't smiling anymore. It's so quiet he doesn't even have to shout.

"Begin."

I brace myself for his move, but he doesn't. He's not even on guard and just testing out the blunt blade in his hand. He's not even trying to hold it properly. Finally, he flips the weapon in his hand, pointing the tip towards the ground as if holding a knife.

"What's the matter, short stuff?" he taunts, finally addressing me. "Aren't you going to strike?"

I want to. I should! He has no stance, no form and is holding his weapon like a carving knife. But it's too confusing. If I attack like I always do, I know I'm going to get a bad surprise. He's confident because he has the skills to back it up, I can tell. He's fought navy seamen before. In other words he can guess how I fight roughly. And that means I am the one who has to adapt to him. Attacking would be a foolish decision.

"At least you're not as stupid as I thought. Well then, it's time for your lesson, milady," he says, bowing in a mocking fashion.

In a blink, he crosses the distance between us and is already on me. Fortunately, not as quick as Atem. I thrust my sword towards his chest which he evades at the last seconds, leaving me a perfect opening to his shoulder and neck. But just as I go for it, he takes a step far too close from me. He blocks my strike and next thing I know, his knee collides violently with my stomach. If I had anything food in there, I would've returned it. I hold my stomach panting to catch my breath. I hadn't expected that.

"You…wha…how…"

Curses, I can't even get a word out.

"Here's your first mistake. You restricted the use of weapons to one. There was never any rules about making use of combat. Which you should never forget when dealing with people like us, half pint. Second…"

He swings the backward sword at me and I barely avoid the hit back nearly tumbling back. My heartbeat pounds deafeningly in my hear. I have no chance to come up with any type of strategy, i'm too busy trying to understand his unorthodox way of fighting. It doesn't even feel like he's fighting me. To top it all off, he's as nimble as a cat. Getting out of the way of each of my strikes at the last second every time. I strike again and again, never so much as grazing him. He doges another of my attacks, before swinging his blunt blade into my upper right arm.

"AAH!"

The scream tears my throat as an awful pain shoots through my arm. It's like being stabbed again and have the blade rubbed in. I feel the blood leaking and staining my sleeve and I drop my wooden blade to put pressure on it. My whole arm shakes in pain.

"… You said there was no using your free hand, but nothing about not attacking it. Idiot. And your third and worst mistake, was discarding death."

I don't understand. Half of my focus is on my arm being tainted too fast, so much that my head starts spinning. Discarding death? What does that mean? He raised his sword again and I don't even have the time to think of evading it. The hilt strikes my temple. I find myself lose balance and tumble but before I can hit the ground, his hand closes on my throat. I get my footing back immediately, but he still squeezes cutting off my airway. Just how strong is he?

"Here's the thing, wench. When you don't forbid death out right, or make a silly victory rule such as 'touching one's vital spots', nothing prevents me from breaking every bone in your body if I feel like it. You chose the rules; no one is going to stop this fight until one of us hits the other in a vital spot."

I understand now. Facing Atem, I was afraid to get hurt. But with him… I fear for my life. Swallowing my spit takes more effort than it should and makes me want to vomit. My arm, my stomach and my throat all hurt horribly. But they don't matter. There's nothing on my mind other than wanting to stay alive. I claw at his arm trying to make him let go, but his grip is iron. My lungs are burning but the pain begins to numb. I feel tears leak on my cheeks

'No. No, no. I can't die. I don't wanna die. I have to find Seto, I can't leave Moki alone. I need to find my heritage. I can't die. I can't. God, please. Not now. Not yet.'

My vision is blurring but I can tell he's brought his face closed. He's saying something but I can't make it out. I can't go like this. I summon every last ounce of my strength to my hand and shove my finger into what I assume is his eye. What follows is a cry of pain followed by cursing and the hand around my neck loosens. I fall to the ground coughing uncontrollably while trying to get the air back in. But it's too late, the exhaustion is too strong. Before darkness takes me, I see a figure with spiky hair and a long coat coming towards me.

I promise, there's a reason for Atem letting Bakura go full psycho. Find out next chapter!

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