Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Champloo. No financial gain is made from this. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Captain van Diemen would have hit the administrator gladly. All ships were being meticulously examined, looking for the Governor's murderer. Authorities had the certainty she had escaped by sea after searching Sumatera island. The testimony of Sophia Irving was crucial to the investigation, framing none other than her step-mother.

He frowned. "Why did she do that? You saved her, no?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I will never know. Maybe one day, when I have lived enough, I will return to her and ask for an explanation before to die."

Not only vessels were being put on hold until inspection, but also passenger lists were being checked with an unlikely rigour. I knew I was at a crossroads. I went back to the harbour, but the security around the vessels made it impossible to board again one unnoticed. I was considering my choices, the chances of survival if I stayed in this island, when a strong hand grabbed me by the collar. I turned my head to come eye to eye with a soldier reeking of alcohol. Maybe the liquor gave him a providential clarity to see through my disguise.

"What are you doing here, lad?" he asked me.

"I was just..."

"He looks like a thief to me," a second soldier said to my right.

"Trying to sneak into a ship, boy?" the first one asked, his hand still pulling at my loose shirt.

"No, sir," I answered. "I was just looking for my Captain."

"Ah, yes, and who that would be?" They laughed, convinced by my nervousness in my guilt.

"Captain van Diemen!" I almost screamed.

"I am feeling generous, boy. I will accompany you to your captain. What do you say, George?" The other man just chuckled idiotically in response.

They ignored my protests as they dragged me towards the administration office. I kicked and trashed in the air like a fish out of the water. We crossed the doors of the building and I felt all eyes on us. I physically winced when the soldier yelled "Does this rat belong to any of you?"

I saw the smiles in the faces of the men, heard them laugh at my ridicule. My eyes though stayed on Captain van Diemen, who leaned over a paper, wearing a pair of glasses I had never seen on him. My eyes begged him for a mercy I did not deserve. I knew he had no more use on me; new sailors would be hired in Fort Zeelandia. There was no more reason to overlook that I had boarded his ship illegally. He was a smart man, for sure he had guessed by now my real identity; he would surely be better off if he handed me over to the authorities. If he ever realised who I really was, I never knew.

I held my breath as he rose from his chair.

"He is one of mine," he finally said and I felt tears coming to my eyes, so I hung my head low. The hands that now held me by the arms did not let go though.

"Show me," the soldier said, dragging me with him to where my captain was. The paper between his hands was a passenger list and the soldier slammed his fist over it. Captain van Diemen glared at him, the same cold eyes that kept his crew obedient and well-behaved. "Well, old man, where in this list is this scoundrel? And why was he loitering around the harbour?"

Captain van Diemen looked at the list, then back at me with sorry eyes. We both knew my name was not there. I had not even given him a name.

I saw his finger go down the names and stop suddenly around the end of the list. "Here. John Salis. That's his name."

My eyes widened. I was surprised at the name choice; did the captain know that John would not be sailing with us? But specially, I gasped at this man, who knew nothing of me, and was willing to put his life on the line for a complete stranger.

"Show me," the soldier grunted, letting go of my sore arm.

"What?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Proof me you are John Salis, boy. Do you have something to show for it? A letter?"

I rummaged through my tattered jacket and pulled the leather book. I offered it to the soldier with apprehension. "My journal."

He leafed through it quickly, then threw it back to me. With a sign of his head, he gestured to his companion and they both left. I sighed. The severe gaze of my captain made me gulp and I mouthed a 'sorry'. He shook his head in derision.

The hunched man came back and declared "You and your men can go, van Diemen," in a Dutch so clear I could understand.

The Captain just nodded and muttered "Let's go," at me.

I grabbed his hand to stop him, but moved off my hands when I noticed my gesture. "I need to do something first." I needed to say goodbye to John, to explain him that I would be leaving, that I was in danger if I stayed with him here.

"We are leaving port tomorrow morning. We need to prepare the rest of our journey," he just answered me and kept on walking.

I followed him, although what was a light step for him, it meant almost running for me. "It will be just ten minutes. I need to go downtown."

"If you go, don't come back. I have risked enough for you. To repay your service. We are now at peace," he said before to start to shout orders at his men in Dutch.

I swallowed my sorrow and started to help carry heavy crates to the Clover - while other men carried two or three at a time, I struggled with one. It was only when the night had fallen and we all gathered back in the entrails of the vessel, when I had made sure that all other crewmen were deep in their sleep, only then I cried, as I opened the journal and read. I cried for John, for him, for his broken dreams, and I cried for myself, selfishly.

"Did you love that man?" he suddenly asked me.

"Who?"

"John."

I pondered. It was hard to remember what I felt such a long time ago, during such a turbulent period of my life. "I do not really know," I confessed. "I don't think it was love. I don't think I have ever felt love yet, so I cannot tell. John was... an anchor. He helped me when I had all lost asking nothing in return. He was an amazing person and I looked up to him for that. He had the strength I lacked. And I am not speaking about physical strength... Could have I love him in time? Probably yes." I smiled sadly. "Guess we will never know."

I sank my grief in the daily work around the ship. Interaction was still hard with the other sailors and a lot of new faces that I did not trust had joined us for this second period of voyage. My human interactions were scarce and I spent a lot of sleepless nights just reading John's words in his journal. I still played cards occasionally. Like the first time I boarded the 'Clover' I was unaware of our route. I learned also some basic sailing mechanisms.

We had spent a week at the sea more or less when we saw the skies turn red as an augury of what was to happen. The Sun was dutifully retiring to give place to the night when the First Mate shouted "Piraat!"

We all left our chores to gaze over the board. I felt fear as I saw the silhouettes of the pirates' ships appearing in the horizon, in front of us, but also behind us. They were everywhere. Their sails reminded me the wings of a dragon. I saw with horror all men ran around panicked, yelling at each other words I could not understand. Even the captain looked surprisingly reserved. Were we not supposed to prepare to fight? Cowardly, I took refuge below decks, where already several men trembled. I crawled back to my place in between barrels and I prayed to a God I had long time neglected. I cried with each time I felt the vessel shake as if something rammed into it. I hugged my legs and buried my head between my knees, wishing it all to end. Once more, I cannot tell how much time I spent like that, but in a sense of deja vu, somebody grabbed me by the arm and lifted me as a lantern was shone in my face.

"There you are, boy," van Diemen said. "Come. And stop crying."

In a daze, I was dragged around until I stepped in a room I had never seen before. The captain's quarters. It was not lavish as I expected. The bed and desk took almost all the space of the room. The person sitting behind the desk probably carried more gold than what there was in the cabin. With a hand gesture, my captain was escorted away by two minions.

"Kneel," a man commanded me. I glanced at him; it was not the person sitting, but he stood next to the desk. Unlike every other pirate, he was European. I dropped to one knee. "What is your name, lad?"

"Henry Burger, sir."

"Very well. You have been chosen as representative of this vessel," he announced.

I gawked at him. "Wh-What?"

The man ignored me. "I will act as translator."

"Why me?" I babbled.

"You are the only English-speaker in this ship," he explained.

"What about the captain?"

"He is Dutch," he said with distaste. I understood then that I was not in a situation to demand favours and the way the person that sat sized me up was making me extremely nervous. Suddenly, he turned to whisper at the Englishman's ear. "Ching Shih wants you to know that as we speak her men are emptying your vessel of any possession we might consider worth stealing and there is nothing you can do about that." I did not even know what these precious possessions could be, but in my current situation I had little care for the material. "Once they are finished, she will decide if we sink your ship or not."

I shivered at his words. I fell fully to my knees, my hands on the floor. "Please, do not kill us all."

I saw in dismay the woman laugh, her jewellery jingling with the movement. It was a weird contrast, the finery of her adornments and the slovenly clothes. She was androgynous in her appearance and manners. Her slanted eyes studied me. Then she spoke for a long time in what now I assume to be Chinese.

I waited for the translation. "She says that she wants to have dinner with you and hear your story."

"My story?" I asked as I saw the pirate woman look at me expectantly.

The Englishman nodded. "Why a woman is posing for a man and if it is really you that killed a Governor?" I gulped. She contemplated me satisfied. The Englishman frowned, deciding to speak for himself. "You know that Ching Shih's code has special rules for females... If you discover yourself as one, she will free you in the next port," he explained, gentleness in his voice.

I considered his words. Would she? She knew I had a bounty on my head. Could I trust a criminal, a pirate?

"Well?" the translator urged me.

I rose to my feet with effort. Part of me did not want to face what could happen next.

"Shall we go to sleep? It is getting late..." I said.

He raised a hand. "No, please. Tell me what happened next."

I smiled at his impatience.

I pulled at the cloth that served as bandana over my head and let my hair fall down. With heavy steps, I took a wooden chair, placed it in front of the desk and sat. "I am not Henry Burger neither John Salis. I will tell you my story if you promise me you will let us live. All of us. All the crew of the 'Clover'. You may take as many objects as you want, but do not hurt us."

Captain Ching Shih beamed. She spoke again and I could hear the excitement in her croaked voice.

"You have her word. She will spare your lives and do not harm to you or your boat if your story is good enough," he translated.

I frowned. "What do you mean 'good enough'?"

The pirate lass leaned forward and smirked. She spoke in broken English, "Entertain me."

The desk became a lush dinner table by the hand of Ching Shih's men. The Englishman poured us red wine and we were served some dish with rice and meat, all dressed in an exquisite sauce. My appetite evaded me, but I tried the food, scared to disrespect them.

"Well?" the Englishman pressured me.

I downed my glass of wine and reached for the bottle to pour me a second one. Ching Shih followed my movements with eagerness. She also seemed uninterested by the feast before us. I took a deep breath and in the course of the bottle of wine, I told them my story as I have told you. I had to pause from time to time to let the Englishman translate my words, but I must admit Ching Shih was a dedicated listener, choosing the right expressions over my tale, surprise, sadness, anger...

By the time I was finished, drained of my secrets, the Sun washed over the 'Clover' and the junk ships of the pirates. Be it because of tiredness or alcohol, I felt drowsy.

Ching Shih rose from her chair, scrapping the wooden floor. "Very well," she said in English before to swap into Chinese.

"As a woman, you are protected by my law and no harm will come onto you. You are free to come with us and we will let you go at our next stop," the man translated.

"I am tired, can we finish this tomorrow?" I complained, yawning.

He raised an eyebrow. "You are being annoying on purpose." I smirked. "Just tell me the end."

"Your story has entertained me well. For that, let it be known that a woman captured the 'Clover' and a woman saved it."

Fast as they came, the Red Flag Fleet left. We sailed forward our storage empty, with barely enough food to survive the rest of the journey. Before she left, Ching Shih gave me advice which I try to live by.

"What did she say?"

"I won't tell you."

"Oh."

Six days later, hunger eating us away, a clear cloudless day, we touched port in Japan.