Despite the warm day, Tenten shivered against the breeze, her clothes soaked through from the seawater. One of the crew members hauled both her and the captain up and she found herself once again on the deck of the pirate ship. Which, after almost dying by both her fiancé's hand as well as the sea, Tenten wasn't in the mood to complain. These people—these supposedly barbarian people—had been kind to her. The kindest anyone had been in a very long time.

The fighting had stopped some time while Tenten was in the water, and pirates were binding their enemies with rope before sending them back to their ship by means of a plank set up between them. Tenten was curious to know how the pirates had won, but she was too cold to ask. Instead, she let herself be led by the captain as he escorted her across the deck.

At first, she thought he might be taking her back to the brig, but surely not, with the hole gaping in the middle of it. She would freeze to death if she had to spend any more time there. But when he steered her towards what she suspected was the captain's quarters, Tenten began to worry that he might want something in exchange for saving her life. She was still his captive, after all, and he had every right—at least in his mind—to demand compensation. Especially once he found out that the attack had happened because of her. She had no idea how many men he had lost in that battle, and what feelings and emotions were swirling around inside his head.

Neji opened the door and she walked inside to a spacious room. It contained a desk near the entrance along with a bookshelf that she suspected was bolted into the floor. Further inside, a bed leaned against a wall with a small window above it. Just beyond that lay a door where Tenten figured held the bathroom.

The room was significantly warmer than outside, and Tenten shivered at the abrupt change in temperature, but was grateful for the warmth. She wouldn't be surprised if her lips had started turning blue by this point. She had been in the water for longer than she would have liked, and she was exhausted from treading water for so long.

Neji spoke to a cabin boy at the door before turning back to face her. His own clothes were drenched, his long dark hair plastered to his skin, and he didn't look any better than she felt. No doubt the last thing he wanted to do was look after her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his soft voice loud in the quiet room.

Tenten shook her head in response. "No, just cold."

"Konohamaru is fetching some water for a bath, so you can warm yourself soon."

Not expecting that comment, Tenten was shocked. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but why are you drawing a bath for me?" She figured he would give her a change of clothes at best. She hadn't even contemplated receiving a bath from him, especially since he had refused every time she had asked him up until this point.

"If you do not get warm soon, you will become sick."

Tenten didn't doubt it. Already she could feel her nose starting to run. She was extremely grateful for being allowed a bath, but she didn't quite know how to tell him that. It wasn't as though they were suddenly best friends after surviving such a harrowing ordeal. She stepped aside as a boy, no older than twelve, walked in and out of the cabin, carrying buckets of water to fill the tub as he went.

"While it is getting ready," Neji said, opening a trunk by his bed and pulling two small towels from it. He threw one to her. "I believe you owe me an explanation. Why were you running from your fiancé?"

Tenten wrapped the towel around her shoulders, her heart sinking at the topic of conversation he chose to go with. But she supposed she owed him an explanation. "He was a cruel man. He hid it well and he was respected by many within the navy, but he had an evil about him that my father noticed straight away. He quickly became my father's right-hand man, doing many of the dirty jobs a mayor would never do himself. Amongst other things, he killed people."

Neji was sitting at the edge of his bed, listening quietly, but he didn't look convinced. "Many of us kill people. That does not necessarily make a person cruel."

"No, that's true. But enjoying it does. I heard him speaking to my father about how much he enjoyed planning his kills, of how he relished the blank look of death on people's faces when the deed was completed. He was a man unhinged, though he hid it well from much of the populace."

Tenten fidgeted where she stood, eyeing the bath through the open door to the bathroom as it continued to rise with each bucket the cabin boy poured in. She could see the steam rising from the tub and absentmindedly wondered how they were able to heat the water so much. She was grateful for being able to bathe, to get truly warm and clean, but she was still wary of her pirate captain. What would he do with her now that the danger had passed?

Neji caught her looking at him and he frowned. "You are looking pale. Are you unwell?"

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Neji hurried Konohamaru along in his mind, knowing his cabin boy could only go so fast. Thankfully, the bath was almost ready, and Tenten could soon warm her chilled bones. Her lips were blue, and she had gone pale in the last few moments, making him worry for her wellbeing.

She shuffled from foot to foot, her hands wringing in front of her, and Neji got the impression she wanted to say something but was too scared to ask. "What is it?"

"What are your plans for me now? Are you going to demand money from my father? Are you going to kill me? Or—" she glanced towards the bed quickly, "—do you want something else from me?"

"Why should I demand ransom from your father?" If she believed he would harm her now, after he had saved her life, she was dafter than he thought.

His captive had the gall to glare at him, much to his relief. If she still had spirit, she must be feeling better.

"Surely you must know who I am, now that I've told you my name."

Neji pondered over her name, having brushed it aside when she had first told him, having had more important things to focus on. Her family name was familiar, and it only took him a few moments to realize why. Neji had once considered plundering the mayor's storehouses, having had heard the man's habit of demanding more tax from the people than was needed. He was incredibly wealthy, so much so that Neji knew he could afford losing some coin. In the end, though, he had decided to pass on that endeavour, since the risk, if the job had gone south, would have outweighed the reward.

"You have no need to fear," Neji assured her, trying to keep his voice placating. "No harm will come to you on my ship. Nor will you be held for ransom." Even if the coin was tempting, Neji wouldn't want her to find her way back to her father. No doubt, he had been the one to orchestrate the marriage alliance between her fiancé and her, and anyone who would pair a woman such as she with a beast didn't deserve her in their life.

Neji saw the tension fall away from her shoulders and when she met his gaze, the relief shining in her eyes was evident. "Thank you. Though, even if you were to demand ransom, he wouldn't have paid. The only loss he will mourn will be the loss of an alliance of any kind, not the loss of his only daughter. I am glad to be away from him and his violent tendencies." She smiled, but Neji could tell the words hurt her to say, and he felt anger rise in his chest that she had experienced such cruelness in her life.

"The bath is ready, Cap'n," Konohamaru informed him, the boy's small frame gazing up at him with admiration. Neji gave him a brief smile, nodding his thanks, and Konohamaru left the cabin, shutting the door behind him.

Neji walked back to the chest by his bed and picked out a plain white long-sleeved shirt before handing it to Tenten.

"Two baths in one day? I feel like I'm getting the royal treatment." Her voice was amused but her smile was shy, and Neji found he enjoyed the combination.

His smile was brief but genuine. He wanted to continue the banter, say something to make her laugh, but he wasn't sure what to say. Lee would know, but Neji wasn't known for his sense of humour. Instead, he only said, "Take your time," and turned towards his desk.

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The bath was heavenly. Tenten had only been at sea for about a week, but already she had forgotten just how amazing a hot bath was. She took her time, washing her hair twice with some soap she found, as well as her aching body. She leaned against the edge of the tub, enjoying the way the heat soothed her sore muscles and warmed her from the inside out.

It was only when the water had cooled that Tenten pulled herself out and dried off. She slipped the shirt over her head, thankful for the captain for providing it for her. If only she had asked for pants, though. The shirt didn't quite reach her knees, and Tenten suddenly felt very self-conscience. She had never been in the presence of the opposite sex with so little on.

Opening the door slowly, she peeked out into the cabin. Neji was sitting at his desk, concentrating on something he was writing. Tenten took a deep breath and walked into the cabin, but immediately became shy when he looked up and ran his gaze over her.

She wasn't sure why, but his gaze heated her skin more than the bath had, and she quickly averted her eyes from his, finding the knickknacks on his shelf extremely interesting.

"Konohamaru will arrive soon with some food," Neji said, causing her to glance at him again. "You may eat while I bathe."

He stood up and made his way to the bathing room, and Tenten suddenly felt contrite.

"Will he not fill it again for you?" she asked. She hadn't even been thinking of the captain, and she hoped she hadn't just selfishly used all the hot water on him.

"Hot baths are a luxury on a ship. It would be a waste to use more water than necessary by emptying the tub and filling it again."

"I'm really sorry," Tenten apologised. "You should have told me. I wouldn't have spent so long in there. The water will be cold by now."

"It is fine. I am used to cold baths. Besides," he added, that small smile gracing his lips again briefly. "You needed it, after the ordeal you have gone through."

Tenten felt her heart warm at his words, at this unexpected gift from this pirate captain. "Thank you. I'm very grateful."

They gazed at each other, unmoving, until a knock at the door made Tenten jump. Neji closed the bathroom door behind him and Tenten opened the cabin door to see the young boy with two trays of food in his hands.

"Food for you and the Cap'n, miss," he said, squeezing past her into the room. He set them down on Neji's desk before giving her a small bow and leaving again.

The smell of stew—yes, stew!—made Tenten salivate. She was sitting at the desk in a heartbeat with the bowl in her hands, breathing in the delicious smell. She ate ravenously, and the food was gone much too soon for her liking. She eyed the captain's meal longingly, her stomach still rumbling pathetically.

"You are welcome to mine."

Tenten whipped her head up and around, her cheeks pinkening at both his words and the sight before her. His hair was damp, and his pants rode low on his waistband. He was shirtless, and Tenten tried not to ogle his muscular build.

She shook her head and pushed the bowl towards him. "I couldn't possibly. I already stole all the hot water. Besides, I've had my fill."

On cue, her belly rumbled and Tenten flushed, embarrassed. Neji's lips tipped upwards at the noise, and he pushed the bowl back to her. "I insist. Eat."

She did as she was told, though she ate the second bowl with more etiquette. While she ate, Neji leaned against the door of the cabin, in front of her, watching. After some time, he asked, "What are your plans now?"

"My plans?" Tenten glanced at him, a frown on her lips. "What do you mean?"

"Now that your fiancé is dead and you no longer live with your father, what do you plan on doing? What was your objective when you came aboard my ship?"

Tenten worried her lip, thinking. "My plans were to get off at the next port you stopped at and start a new life. Though, I admit I don't have much in the means of money. Or clothes," she added with a glance at her attire.

Neji nodded. "You are welcome to leave the ship at the next port if that is your wish. Although, our next port will be Kirigakure, and I have to warn you that it is not the safest place for a young woman by herself."

Tenten had heard of Kirigakure, and nothing she heard had been pleasant. If she were to set up in a new town, she didn't want to start a new life in a town rampant with violence and theft. "Maybe I should wait for a friendlier town," she murmured.

"You are welcome to stay onboard until we make port at a more suitable village."

"Would I be welcome to…" she let her words peter out, knowing she would be insane to voice them. But if she was going to be staying onboard for the foreseeable future as it was, maybe the captain wouldn't mind. Taking a deep breath, Tenten asked, "Would I be welcome to stay and work onboard? I think I would enjoy some time at sea after my sheltered life at home."

Neji's eyebrows had raised almost to his hairline as she spoke, but he managed to school his features back into a blank line. "I do not hire women."

Her heart dropped and she looked down at her lap. "Of course, forgive me for asking. I know about the superstition about women on ships."

She felt him push off against the door and walk towards her, but she didn't look up. "I do not care for superstitions, Tenten." Her name on his lips made her heart race and she glanced up at him, who was now directly in front of her on the other side of the desk. "I will not hire you, but you are welcome to stay onboard." His lips tipped up, just slightly. "If you wish for adventure, you will see plenty of it aboard my ship."

"I can stay?" Tenten couldn't quite believe her ears. "Can I help with the chores? Learn how to use a sword?" Her father had refused to let her learn, though she had wanted to since she was a little girl. She had held a sword, only once, and Tenten had known in her gut that she would have an affinity for the weapon if only she was given the opportunity to learn how to wield it.

"You wish to work with my men and learn to fight?" He looked at her, incredulous.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes please. Even if you don't hire me, I will work. I'm not going to sit around doing nothing while others work. I've spent my whole life bored in a house that was much too large for me, so this will be a pleasant change of pace."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you forget that we are pirates?"

Of course, Tenten had loathed him and his crew when she first came aboard—not just them, but all pirates. And she had no doubt that there were pirates out there that were truly horrible, but Neji and his men had shown they were decent people. They killed when necessary, but not excessively, and the few she had met had been kind to her. If the captain was a good person at heart, she had no doubt he chose similar men to work with him.

She smiled. "Yes, but I also believe you are good people. I would very much like to stay onboard for as long as you will have me."

"Very well. He nodded his acceptance, a smile playing on his lips. "Welcome to the Crimson Night, Tenten," he said, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "I hope you enjoy your stay."

I apologise for the late submission. I ran out of mojo for a few days, and didn't end up writing the other prompts I had wanted to.

I really hope you enjoy the ending of this little AU. I know, technically nothing romantic happened with them, but really, this is just the start of their journey together (and it sets it up for me if I ever decide to expand on this world). I am not 100% happy with this last part, but I can't waste anymore days, so I decided to present it like this. Even so, I hope you, my dear readers, still liked it.

Thank you for reading! I'll probably post a couple of prompts sometime tomorrow to get back on track, since it's almost the 18th and I'm still stuck on Day 16. I'll get there eventually!