Ahoy, hearties! How glorious it is to be back on the seas of writing! My posting should be more regular from now on. Good, cause I was tired of pushing this back! Hang on to yer whiskers, scalawags! Ye'll be needin' it!

Oh, someone asked this a while back but Shayee is pronounced "Shaw-yee"

Enjoy!

Soon after the captain gave the order, the Millennium is on the move to go meet up with that strange ship. I can't shake off this morbid premonition. Mokuba and I stay where we are, unsure of what to do. Soon after. Joey returns and tells us to follow him. The usually laid back and cheerful wolf-man seems as tense as he was on the island. He quickly leads us down the wooden stairs to the lower decks.

"Joey, what is happening?" I ask, doing my best to keep up. "Who are they?"

"Old acquaintances that almost always bring trouble with 'em," he says. "Depending on what they want, we'll have a scuffle on our hands."

A shiver shoots up my spine. "A-Are you sure?"

"I don't know Yug," he says just was we reach the lowest deck and the food storage. "Usually, the cap'n is pretty good at handling that guy but ya never know what he might want. Ya two stay till someone comes get ya, alright?"

"But—"

"Stay here," he orders one more time before heading back towards the stairs. Still he throws a signature wide grin towards us and winks. "I'll be back to get ya in no time."

With that, he disappears up the stairs at an incredible speed. His attempt at reassuring us hasn't helped at all and I feel my insides shift uncomfortably. From Moki's face, I can tell he's just as worried.

"Do you think it's another pirate ship?" asks the youngest Kaiba.

"Most likely."

Atem's serious face comes to mind. I'm well placed to know it takes a lot to catch him off guard. He looked truly worried about that ship. I look around. Seems hiding out in food storages has become a constant with us. If a fight does break out, it is best that we stay out of the way. I sit down on the floor and Mokuba imitates me.

"Yugi," he says, nervously fiddling with his hair. "It's not a good idea if we get taken by another crew."

He doesn't have to explain his statement. It's fairly obvious that even though we've been captors, threatened and forced to work, we've also been extremely lucky to have been captured by the Millennium crew. Making abstraction of Atem and his forceful methods, everyone has treated us well. Any other ordinary group of pirates wouldn't have hesitated to kill or ransom Mokuba and do whatever they pleased with us. Just the thought turns my stomach. And I'm yet so confident that the Stream will answer me every time trouble comes our way. So if confrontation there is and if we want our situation to remain as optimal as possible, we have to pray that our captors win.

If I got my hands on a sword, I might be able to help. I have better swordsmanship than most of the crew. But Joey said Atem could diffuse the situation. All I can do now is wait to see how it goes. I take a deep breath and try to keep my head from fathoming the most horrid things that could happen to us should the Millennium battle with the unknown ship.

By default, my thoughts go to my island. Not a pleasant subject to think about but its better than panicking. I think of all the things I've learned thanks to Atem and realize that I haven't even asked where the orichalcum was on the island. Had the pirates from back then found it? If so, what have they done with it? It's been twelve years. Surely if it had been on the market of the sweet trade for so long, Seto would have heard of it. Nothing gets by him. He keep very active informants everywhere in the Caribbean. Does it mean they never found it?

A sudden tremor shakes the ship and I know we've touched the helm of the newcomer. All movement and footsteps from before has quieted down. The bad feeling from before doesn't fade and I have trouble swallowing my own spit.

'Calm down, Yugi. They're equally armed and probably just as numerous as the other crew. And there is no guarantee there will be a fight. Joey said Atem was good at talking his way out. Until then it's useless to panic. Calm down.'

Another tremor hits me. This time, it's light and barely perceptible. Mokuba hasn't noticed. And I've felt it under me. I can never mistake the movements of the sea. Being on the deck closest to it helps. Without truly knowing why, I get to my knees and stick my hear against the floor.

"What are you doing?" asks Mokuba, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Shh."

I close my eyes. Immediately, a melody of waves, current movements and amplified sea creatures songs fill my ear and I feel the vibrations they send throughout me, like I am plunged in a sea of familiar sounds. I can hardly believe it. The sea transports the sounds to me. It's like I'm seeing but only with sound and movement at my disposal. Somehow, I can sense the ship next to hours, clear as day. I also catch the pod of dolphins who'd escorted me to the island. Were they still waiting for me? I feel the thickness of the murderous ring around my island and the island itself.

My heart gallops in my chest. Is this another gift of the Shayee that I've never noticed I had? Or is it part of the senses and reflexes the Stream has awakened in me as Atem said? Whatever the case, my 'sight' has been unbelievably widened. How far can I 'see' I wonder. I take a breath and try to see further. Perhaps I can go around the whole island. Not sure exactly how I'm doing it, I focus my new sense towards Shayee.

A bitter sensation pinches my heart as I began exploring the empty seafloor around but my search is brutally interrupted when I sense something very large approaching above the surface. Another ship? A big one at that. As big as the Millennium actually. That's a strange coincidence. It's highly improbable that anyone would come near Shayee island without a clear objective in mind. Now there's two of them?

I focus and will my new sense to extend further around the island. The further it goes, the more blurry it is. But it's enough that I find another large mass. There's a third ship, going around the other side. Neither are stopping, they're sailing around as if to join us. It can't just by good timing, can it? My insides curl up as the feeling intensifies. I remember another time with hidden ships and distractions. When Atem had set up a trap to capture the Golden Whale. I straighten up so brusquely that Mokuba lets out a cry of surprise.

"What's the matter with you?" he says a hand over his heart.

"Stay here," I order as I stand and rush out of the storage.

Atem's POV

I taste blood as my growing irritation makes me bite into my cheek. What, by the bloody seven seas, is Marik Ishtar —the self-proclaim master black market dealer of the Mediterranean sea— doing all the way here in the Caribbean? If he's come all the way here to scout the island, then it's a hell of a coincidence to meet him the exact same day. There are only two reasons I can think of for him to come all this way. Either for the same reason that pushed the people who came for the Shayee twelve years ago or to get his money. Seeing how the crew of the Osiris is requesting to parley, the latter is more likely. He wasn't joking when he said he could find us anywhere.

As the Millennium approaches the Osiris, Joey returns from the lower decks and orders the men to link up the two ships. Hooks and ropes are thrown from both sides to bring to two together. Hunter comes to my side and whispers.

"Tristan and the gunners are ready. Ye think they be here for the payment Cap'n? I thought we still had another year to pay em back."

"So did I," I reply. "Make sure the men are ready just in case."

Finally, the helms of the two ships are close enough. A plank is placed in between them and Marik steps onto my ship moments later. As usual, his attire appears more expensive than the entirety of the tribute we've collected from the Golden Whale. A satisfied smirk decorates his face as he observes my crew and the state of the Millennium. Along with him follows his loyal guard dog, Odion. The giant is armed to the teeth and has unsurprisingly added more tattoos to his torso since we last met. After him, a very skinny figure covered from head to toe by a long beige cloak also boards. A dozen mercenaries or so follow suit and my crew stands on guard as I've taught them to be.

With a sign of the hand, Marik orders his men to stay back and advances closer to the center of the ship. Only Odion and the skinny figure accompany him. I leave the crowd and go meet him with Joey and Hunter by my side. If I can't talk our way out of this, then we'll have no choice but to fight.

"Pleasant afternoon to you, Yami," he says, with that usual overly polite tone. "Glad to see Davy Jones hasn't dragged you to the bottom of the sea yet. How are you liking this lady so far? Have I mentioned I truly like the name you gave her. Millennium. It has a nice ring to it."

"Hey yourself, Marik," I reply, mirroring his smile. "I can't believe you're not rotting in jail yet. She's everything you promised and more."

"Very pleased to hear it. I have a reputation to maintain on the quality of the goods I provide."

"How thoughtful of you to cross a literal ocean to make sure of that," I scoff at him before crossing my arms on my chest. "Why have you come here?"

The Egyptian's smile doesn't leave him and the muscles in my jaw tighten. The Ishtar family isn't one to let go easily once they have their eye on something. I can feel Joey twitching nervously. It doesn't take a wolf-man's instincts to tell Marik's brought trouble with him. The merchant's smile widens and my alertness only grows.

"Don't be so tense, Sennen. I'm here to give you the opportunity to pay me back in full for the ship."

So he is after us and not the island. That doesn't answer the "why" or "how".

"How odd. Last I remember, we still had another year to pay. Have you changed your mind or did you find yourself in massive debt with all the gambling you do?"

"There's no need for wisecracks, my friend," replies Marik, without so much as picking up on the taunt. "I'm telling you that you have the possibility to pay me back now. You should be thrilled."

"What makes you say that?"

"You've acquired some very interesting things from your last hunt. I'm saying I'm interested. If you hand it to me, your debt will be settled and the ship, officially yours."

I bite my cheek in frustration again. How could he possibly know about that? It takes months to get from Europe to here. We've only acquired our tribute three days ago. Even before we've met, the Egyptian had a reputation for always making successful deals no matter how risky they were. If people tried to run from the debts they owed him, he always found them and well, took back what was his with interest.

"And how, pray tell, did you learn of this?" I ask.

Again, his smirk widens and with a sign of the hand, he orders the skinny figure in the cloak to come closer. The hood falls down, revealing a woman with dark skin and silky hair. She is beautiful but there is an air of complete indifference about her. Yet her eyes seem to be looking right into my soul. I stare back and neither of us looks down. I've seen her before, I'm sure of it. Just as I remember where I've seen this unsettling stare, Marik speaks.

"Do you remember my sister?" he asks. "You've met her during our negotiations. You see, my dear Ishizu was born with a very particular gift. She is, one could say, the source of my success. She sees things."

"What sort of things?"

"Things that are far away. Things that haven't happened yet. Things that took place long before any of us were even born."

That's one information too many. Either that scumbag of a merchant is screwing with me or he's telling me this because he's not expecting any of us to tell anyone. If he's telling the truth, then Ishizu might know about Yugi. That's what I must verify first.

"Foresight? Really?" I say, raising an eyebrow at the woman. "Prove it."

"Three days ago, you attacked a convoy of the Kaiba company, called the Golden Whale," says Ishizu, slowly and without any emotion to be heard in her voice. "Two of your associates were taken down by the enemy's battleships. You left the third one to die in a cave where you buried his crew and his ship."

Surprise isn't what hits me. I've seen too many things to be impressed by a clairvoyant witch. No, I realize in that moment that I likely won't be able to talk our way out of this. Not if I'm right about about what they want. I glance at the mercenaries behind the Ishtar and make a quick count. Our numbers seem equivalent to theirs. Those mercenaries might be tough to handle for some of the crew members. And we're short one Bakura. But with Joey on our side, we still have the upper hand. And should we engage, killing Marik should suffice to make the mercenaries back off. Those types don't work for those who can't pay. Simultaneously, I'd be clearing our debt. All in all, odds our slightly better in our favor. Though something still feels strange.

"Convinced, Yami?" reprises the merchant. "She had that vision six months ago."

"Impressive," I reply, not showing any reaction whatsoever. "Unfortunately, I have a need for the goods we've acquired now. Sorry. You'll have to wait for the set deadline if you want your money."

A snicker escapes Marik. "Playing dumb doesn't suit you, Yami. If money was the issue, I'd just have waited for next year. I'm patient and I keep my word. You know what I'm talking about. You've got something a lot more interesting with your tribute."

My insides curl up turning my guts to iron. Indeed, it looks like there was no avoiding a confrontation. The Egyptian takes a couple of steps closer to get in my face and make me feel our height difference. Something most of my opponents make the mistake of doing. I stand my ground and uncross my arms, clutching the sheath of my sword. The hostility around us is spreading like the wind and I feel the tension of my crew rising.

Something is not right. Marik is no fool. He can see as well as I that our numbers are even and he knows my men aren't slouches when it comes to fighting. Yet he's not holding back the hostility anymore. As if he absolutely wants to provoke us into a fight. And that overconfident and defying smile betrays his lack of tension. Is he so sure of his victory?

"Come now, old friend," he says. "We can still resolve this without violence. I'm not asking for that much in the grand scheme of things."

"ATEM!"

All my muscles contract at once when her voice rings in my ears. That idiot. Why has she come here? I'm expecting a sarcastic comment from my unwelcomed guest, but Marik's eyes are wide with shock as he stares at her. That only serves to irk me.

Yugi's flamboyant tricolored hair attracts the eye of all around like a ball of fire as she makes her way through the small crowd. Some of the mercenaries back away upon seeing her and mutters of fear and fascination spread. Finally, she makes it out and hurries to us.

"I told ya to stay put," growls the wolf-man.

"Never mind that," she shouts, completely panicked.

Paying no mind to Marik or his crew, she takes a step closer to me and plunges her eyes in mine. Before the words can leave her mouth, I know something is wrong.

"There are two more ships heading our way," she says, speaking fast. "From each side of the island. Both as big as this one!"

"How the hell d'ye know that?" asks Hunter, not bothering to hide the doubt from his face.

"I-I don't know." She stutters as she desperately searches for a way to be convincing. "I saw them. Well, not with my eyes but— but I know they're there! You have to believe me!"

Her panic speaks for itself, but even without that I know she's right. After the Stream, now she's awakened the sixth sense of the Shayee. I knew bringing her here would awaken more of her. I can feel a wave of satisfaction come over me but now's not the time to rejoice. Still, in order for the rest of the Millennium to be convinced, I need to add a little weight to her claim.

"Jaden!" I call out, looking up at a yard of the mainmast where the youngest of my crew is sitting.

"Aye aye, cap'n!"

I've no need to formulate my order. In moments, Jaden reaches the crow's nest and gazes at the edges of the island for a while.

"INCOMING SAILS!" he shouts loud enough for us to hear.

I turn to Marik, throwing him the most threatening glare I possess. That's why he so sure to have the upper hand. The two ships have to be filled with more mercenaries. This is bad. That means they have at least three times our numbers.

"I see you've brought insurance," I tell him.

He's not listening. His eyes are still fixated on Yugi who finally looks in his direction. Only now does she seem to realize his presence and put her guard up.

"Magnificent," says the Egyptian. "It is her, isn't it Ishizu?"

"Yes, brother," replies the sister, her voice as flat as ever. "She's the one I saw."

Cursed witch! Marik's secret weapon is nothing to sneeze at. The merchant orders his sister to return to their ship which she proceeds to do without complaint. He then turns to Yugi again. My hand is at my cutlass when his hand reaches out for her but she's the one to slap his hand away and take a quick step back.

"Don't touch me," she says.

My pride might be to blame, but I can't help a half smile seeing her picking my side. Even if it is for her own benefit and that of the lad. The defiance also makes Marik snicker as he takes his hand back.

"How aggressive," he comments. "I thought Shayee were supposed to be pacifists. Perhaps you really are a little demon. How do you tame her, Yami?"

"I don't," I reply, stepping in between them but still unable to stop smiling. "She's quite docile when it comes to me. She bites anyone else who tries to pet her. Don't you, love?"

I glance over my shoulder to see her face. The mix of panic and shock isn't enough to keep her cheeks from heating up.

"This is really not the time!" She snaps.

Right she is. That face should be enough reason for me to stay alive. There's nothing left for me to know or observe. I unsheathe my blade and slash through the air to slice up the Egyptian's stomach. He jumpes back just in time to avoid getting torn apart.

"I take it our negotiations are over?" he says, as calmly as before.

"For them to be over, there should've been negotiations in the first place."

"You're really willing to risk your entire crew to keep your little pet? Think about it Yami."

Something boils in my veins. I despise this sensation but I loath that man even more. I feel the heat gain my entire body as anger spreads out to all of me. Good. Anger has been my reliable source of strength for many years now. Yet somehow, I've learned to smile like the devil whenever I feel it.

"You of all people should know Marik," I say, showing my teeth. "If we gentleman of fortune want something, others have to pry it from our cold dead hands. OPEN FIRE!"

The cannon's roar and as the deafening noise shoots through our temples, strong tremors shake both ships. Leave it to Tristan to make explosions even more deadly then they ought to be. Marik won't risk sinking the Millennium with all the tribute onboard. It's one advantage we can't let pass. The shaking of the Osiris and the loss of balance of the mercenaries give me a few seconds to speak to my right hand man.

"Sorry to ask this of you. But once the second ship will be in range—"

"Leave it to me," cuts off Joey." The hearties are good enough to handle just this one on their own. Especially with ya around. The real trouble'll be when the third ship joins the scuffle."

"I'll improvise. You focus on the second ship."

"Aye aye, Cap'n!"

Our conversation ends as Marik's guard dog regains his balance and throws himself on us as his master unsheathes his own cutlass. For a giant he's fast. But just as he raises an enormous axe over our heads, Joey's claws bite into his neck, severing his carotid. Odion won't be getting up again. I don't have much time, I have to hurry.

Whipping around, I grab Yugi's wrist and pull her behind me, just as the crew and the mercenaries turn to a infernal melee. The tension in her wrist is palpable as is the sweat and her quick pulse. I drag her back down to the lower decks.

Yugi's POV

If he hadn't been gripping my wrist, I would've broken something after tumbling down the stairs. We stop on the first lower deck. My heart is galloping in my chest and the shots from the canon fire are still ringing in my ears. Atem leaves me no time to catch my breath and lets go of my wrist to grip my face in order to have my attention.

"This time, I really need you to stay put, love." Though he calls me that, his face is dead serious and I can tell he's angry. "Things are getting rowdy up there and the last thing I need is you in my hair."

With that, he releases my chin and reaches for his belt to then shove something in my hand. Drainer. The orichalcum knife. He'd never give me that unless there was serious trouble. I knew it, they were going to have a hard time getting rid of those people, whoever they were. Now's the not the time to question him.

"Go back to the lad and stay in the hold until someone comes get you," he orders. "If I see you up there before this is all over, I'll be the one to hurt you."

Another threat but very different from all the ones I've received up till now. He's telling me to keep myself safe. Is he so prideful that he doesn't want them to have me even if he should lose this battle? Or would he do anything to keep the last Shayee alive? Does that mean he's expecting to fail? I think of Mokuba and shiver. Atem adds nothing and begins to make his way back up the stairs.

"It's that bad, huh?" I let out, my voice shaking.

I wasn't expecting an answer or even for him to pay any mind to my comment. But he stops and turns one last time to me to give me that signature cocky smirk of his.

"I believe I've made myself clear: I'll be damned if I let anyone take you from me."

I don't have time to read his face. A man I don't recognize appears at the top of the stairs, holding some sort of crossbow. But before he can point it to us, a gunshot rings and a bullet pierces the middle of his forehead. Dropping his pistol, Atem unsheathes his cutlass and runs up the stairs back to the upper deck.

"Hold! Now!" he shouts to my address.

I don't hesitate and rush further down into the ship as fast as I can, clutching Drainer against me. I pass in front of the firing deck where Tristan is shouting orders to the gunners. I continue my way down. I pass the dormitory, the refectory, the armory…But when I reach the top of the last flight of stairs leading to the hold, a familiar gruff voice reaches me and I stop. It's coming from the holding cells.

"Oi! Would someone tell me what the bloody hell's going on up there?!" shouts the former quartermaster's voice. "Hey, I heard you coming down. Don't you dare ignore me! I'm talking to you, scurvy dogs!"

A bad idea comes to mind. A terrible one in fact. I know it the moment I think it. So bad that I stay there paralyzed, staring at the door leading to the cells. But the crew's in trouble. They need all the help they can get. Moki and I need all the help we can get.

"Curses!" I swear.

I can hear Seto's voice in my head telling me how foolish and idiotic I'm being as I whip around and run back to the deck above. Thankfully, the armory has been left opened by the crew probably when their captain told them to arm themselves. I look around and spot a familiar black belt hanging from a hook on the wall. There's a sword and a pair of twin pistols hanging from it. Unlike the rest of the well organized weapons in the room, it's the only set I see. It has to be his.

I grab it and check the powder compartments of the pistols. They're full and from the weight, I know they're loaded. I put it under my arm and run back to the cells, my mind still screaming at me how stupid I'm being. I push the door leading to the cells. Sure enough, I find Bakura in the first cell, arms and legs tied up. For them to go to that extent, he must be dangerous. And I'm the one who provoked him. He's wearing nothing but his breeches and like I'd predicted, his torso has burned in the sun.

"You?" he says, before puffing out a laugh. "Come to offer yourself up already?"

Everything in my insides contracts just being in his presence. And I'm about to free that monster. Awful idea indeed. His eyes widen when he sees his weapons in my hands and I grab the keys hanging on a hook behind the door. I put the weapons down before inserting the key in the rusty lock. It takes some effort to turn it. While I do, the words pour out of my mouth.

"There are mercenaries attacking the Millennium. Someone named Marik is commanding them. There are three ships in total."

The lock finally gives in. I pick up the weapons and enter. My own mind and reason keep screaming at me to stop, but my body moves on its own. If I stop, I'll never go through with it and right now, I really need to. I kneel down by him —my heart beating faster and faster— and unsheathe Drainer to cut his legs free. The sharpness of the knife surprises me when I see the blade cutting through the ropes in but a moment. As if I'd cut through butter.

"Did the captain send you?" he asks.

"No," I reply getting over the frightening blade and cutting his hands free. "He's already overwhelmed by the atta— AH!"

I've no time to even scream. A hand wraps around my throat and I'm pushed to the ground. I let go of Drainer in the process to try to free my throat but it's too late. He's gripping it like a vice. Terror strikes me when I see Bakura hover over me, a grin stretching out across his face. His eyes are dry from dehydration, giving him an air of complete madness. And I just couldn't listen to reason. What made me think this was going to pay off?

"You really are nothing but a foolish wench," he says, lowering his face until I can feel his breath on mine. "Did you really think I'd pass up this opportunity?"

The grip on my throat tightens until no more air can pass through and tears escape the corner of my eyes. What on God's earth was I thinking, throwing myself at death like that?

Oh oh... Double trouble!

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