Chapter 1

Thirteen years later...

Kazuki took in a deep breath. The smell of salt filled his nostrils, feeling his excitement rise. His life was going in a new direction. No more scavenging for him. No more living on the streets with nothing to eat but garbage from the nobles' trash. No, he was becoming his own person. He was a full man now. He was thirteen after all.

The ocean itself wasn't new to him, but being on it on a boat certainly was. He wasn't very good at walking on the deck yet, but he was determined that he would get the hang of it. He was determined to be the best Claw of the Sea member ever to set foot upon the earth. Well, in the sea. The Claw of the Sea didn't really do land much. They were much stronger on the water, and they practically owned the sea. They practically ruled it.

"Kid! The boss will see you now," a man hollered to him. He began to escort Kazuki to the leader of the Claw of the Sea.

Kazuki had been hired only a few hours before. He hadn't actually gotten to meet the leader yet, nor had he heard anything about whoever it was. They hadn't exactly set sail either. They were still anchored at the docks, picking up a few supplies. It wouldn't be long until they would set sail and start the journey to a better life. A life where he would no longer be just living by a thread. He would live a better life with, hopefully, a full stomach.

The thirteen year old could feel his excitement only growing. It was a mixture of being excited and a sense of a nervous feeling turning in his stomach. However, he refused to show any sign of either feeling just yet. It was his first impression and 'the first impression is the only impression' he was told. He figured that out long before he was advised that however. People see one glance of you and believe they have you all figured out. Chances are, they are ninety-nine percent wrong, and they believe their assumptions as a fact. Thus was the way of the world. You either learned to roll with it, fit around it, or be doomed to more pain and hardships than what you needed to.

Kazuki was led into a ship cabin. It was obviously the master's. There was a large desk in the middle of the small room with a somewhat large chair. On the chair was a woman with her feet propped up on the desk. Her hair was a long seaweed green in two low ponytails on either side of her. She only had lipstick on her lower lip and it was a bright, blood red. However, it was her eyes that one could not take their eyes off of. A sharp lime green that almost felt as if it could pierce you. There was coldness to them. A cruelty to them. A madness to them even.

Suddenly, Kazuki's excitement began to drain out of him. It was being replaced with some sort of odd feeling. He hid this feeling especially and dared not let any feelings control him now. Something told him that maybe he wasn't exactly getting what he planned, but he was going to see it through. It couldn't be as bad as living in the streets, could it? Surely life was taking a better turn. One that would change it and make it worthwhile of actually taking breaths.

The woman ran her finger on her sharp blade. It was shaped like a round boomerang that had a long chain connected to it. She smiled. "So, you're the new recruit." she moved her fingers away from her blade to tap her chin. "Aren't you just a doll."

Kazuki felt the anger rising and the redness growing in his face. If there was one thing he hated, it was being called a doll. He didn't mind 'pretty boy'. He actually kind of liked it, but he hated being called a doll. He was not someone's thing and he never would be. He hated it worse than being mistaken for a she on the rare occasion that he was. He hated it worse than scavenging dumpsters for food. He hated it the most of anything, but he held his tongue.

"Well, Hitomu, what does this 'doll' do." The woman stood up casually.

"I'm pretty handy with a bow and arrows." Kazuki spoke for himself.

"Oh, good. It speaks." She gave a sly smile as she became face to face with Kazuki's. "I am Umihebi, the leader of this crew. You may call me captain."

Kazuki nodded. It was easier than talking.

"This is where you tell me your name." There was just something about her voice and her tone that could easily send shivers up one's spine.

Kazuki refrained himself from shivering. He clenched his fists and stood as tall and straight as he possibly could. "Kazuki. I am Kazuki."

"Well, Kazuki, the rules are simple here. Obey my orders, no one gets hurt." she smiled once more. "You will probably figure out the rest. Hitomu will show you what to do until you learn it." Umihebi turned around and set her hand on the corner of her desk. She had her other hand situated on her hip, still holding her weapon. She turned her head as far far back as her neck would allow to look at them. "That's all."

Kazuki felt Hitomu grab him roughly by the shoulders and directed him back out onto the boat's deck. "Stay," Hitomu ordered. The blond haired boy gave a fast nod. He hid his annoyance that was starting to brew. Hitomu was gone for only a moment. He returned with a mop and bucket. "We'll start with mopping."

"I already know how to do that," Kazuki said.

"Good," Hitomu tossed the mop and bucket, "Then this should be a cinch."

Kazuki caught both of them. He made a face, but dared not protest any longer. It took forever to get a job and was not about to lose it. Hitomu showed him how to get the mop water. He set it on the deck. "Now start mopping," he ordered.

Moodily, but obediently, Kazuki set to work. If he was going to have to mop, then he better as well do the simple task correctly. There was no room for errors. Not in his life. Errors were what took the little light he had in his life and crushed it, succumbing him to darkness. He was not going to let that happen. He couldn't. Not with the light being this bright. He could not risk making any mistakes.

He knew he kept repeating similar things in his head, but it was important. He didn't want to go back to his previous life. It was harsh and hard. Disgusting even. His life had been terrible for the past four years. It was because his caretaker had to go give him up to some random stranger in exchange for a little food and one worn out blanket. Sure they were hungry, but at least they had each other. His caretaker had betrayed him, abandoned him, and it left him bitter. He couldn't even call his caretaker by name.

It was fine. He didn't need that person to have a better life. He would rise up on his own. He would take care of himself and, maybe, one day he'd be able to help some other kid that had such an unlucky fate as he. He had made an oath to himself long ago that he would never purposely betray anyone that he cared about, ever. So far that was easy. There was no one to betray yet.

Kazuki glanced over at Hitomu. The man kept looking at him as if he was trying to find fault in Kazuki's work. He probably was. The thirteen year old quickly returned to his focus on his work. If Hitomu was searching for fault, then there would be no fault. He would prove his worthiness of being a member of the crew, even if it was only through mopping. He would come out roaring. Roaring like the waves.