Diamonds and Pearls
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Notation: This chapter wanted to fight me when it came to length. So a lot of characters got screen time in this one. There is also some very slight exhibition in this. I didn't feel it was enough to merit an official warning though.
Chapter 14
Mei was the Queen of England. As such, certain things were expected of her. One of those things was to be the picture of grace and serenity at all times. This was just not one of those times.
She paces in her bedchambers. Here at least, she could express her anxieties to her heart's content. The Queen was not a fool. She knew that her relationship with Kakashi could only realistically last so long. Eventually, she would have to marry. And if she got caught in an affair after that, it could very well mean the end of both of them.
"I hope that Guy is safe and having good fortune. The filthy pirates likely want their ransom more than they want Kakashi's blood on their swords." She mutters to herself.
She was trying to reassure herself. Pirates were generally not the most trustworthy people. What was to stop them from slitting his throat and demanding the ransom? She might pay them only to find out that they had already thrown him overboard.
Mei hated feeling so helpless. All she could do was wait. There was a very good chance that her lover might already be dead. There was nothing she could do about it and that drove her mad.
"Your Highness, the King of Spain's ship was just seen in the horizon. We expect he'll be docking shortly." One of the maids says as she dares to peek her head into her room.
"Thank you. I shall make myself presentable and meet him as soon as he arrives." Mei replies.
The maid curtsies and scurries off. The Queen couldn't blame her. It must have been rather obvious that she was in quite a frightful state. She sighs and quickly changes into one of her most elaborate gowns. After all, she was meeting with a King. Only the best would do.
A short while later, she walks out towards the courtyard. She could see the King's escorts all around him. A Monarch would be foolish to travel without them. She walks towards him with her head held hair and in a slow, regal fashion.
"Your Majesty, you are looking well. I am afraid that I have only bad news to tell. I'm certain you are already aware of it, but the pirate situation continues only to get worse. We simply must take action." He says.
She nods in agreement. It was only years of schooling her facial features to betray no emotion that allowed her not to raise an eyebrow at such an abrupt greeting. Things must be going poorly for his sailors, if he would bring that up immediately.
"I couldn't agree more. Come, we have much to discuss and you must be tired from your long journey." She offers her hand to him and the King takes it.
In reality, she loathed the Spanish King. His Armada was his pride and joy. She couldn't allow Spain to dominate Europe, but at the moment there was little she could do. So she cultivated this fake alliance.
"Indeed. It was a most taxing voyage. The weather was not particularly kind. Still we have fine ships and even better sailors manning them. We made it here safe and sound. Thanks to the Grace of God, of course." He says with a smile.
"Yes. I am relieved to hear that. These are dangerous times. Our Kingdoms can not afford to lose their rulers. That would create enormous instability. Tell me, do you still favor English Muffins?" She asks.
"Yes, I do. They are the best thing to have come out of your country. Delightful invention they are." He says and Mei nods as she leads him to the Dining Hall.
She really wished he would choke on his muffins. Still she knew better. If he died while visiting her, people would suspect that Mei was behind it. Then the Vatican would get involved and it just wouldn't end well.
"I'm glad that you like them. How long will you be staying?" She asks.
"Oh I should think a month should be sufficient for us to come up with a strategy for dealing with these barbarians." He says merrily.
Mei was tempted to go bash her head against the wall or feign illness. A month?! Oh dear God, why?! What had she ever down to deserve such a punishment? Surely, she would go mad before the month was over.
Meanwhile back on the island, Sasuke was still being cradled and kissed by Naruto. He smiles and returns the kisses. That was until the scent of blood hit his nose.
Sasuke breaks the kiss and frowns. He looks around to see where the scent was coming from. His eyes widen when he sees Kisame's face. He was bleeding badly, likely from a broken nose.
"Naruto, please tell me that you didn't beat him?" Sasuke demands.
"Alright. I won't tell you. Don't fret over anything. You need your rest. You have a broken rib!" Naruto exclaims.
Sasuke gives Naruto a dirty look. He couldn't believe that the other man had beaten Kisame so thoroughly. Had Kisame fought back at all?
Say what you will about blue skinned pirate, he was a damn good fighter. His lover was powerful. Sasuke never questioned that, but it seemed unlikely that he wouldn't have taken any damage from a battle with the other captain.
"Naruto." The raven haired pirate growls in displeasure at the blonde's evasive answer.
"I won't apologize for it. He deserved that and worse. It's his fault that you went overboard. I almost lost you because of him. Itachi almost lost you. The crews almost lost their First Mate and a damn fine pirate!" The blue eyed man half yells.
Sasuke mentally sighs. This was going to take a lot of work. It was flattering that Naruto was so worried about him, but he couldn't let this go on. Kisame was an asset on their treasure hunt. He wasn't going to let Naruto kill him.
"If you promise not to kill him, I'll let you bend me over Kurama's treasure when we find it and ravish me to your heart's content." He says.
"Really? You won't play coy like you usually do?" The blonde asks.
Sasuke frowns at the use of the word coy. It sounded so damn feminine. Damn it. Naruto was really making this helpless routine difficult to pull off.
His natural impulse was to throttle him for such a label. He cooled his temper though. Sasuke knew that Kisame's continued survival was important to the success of the mission. So he'd just have to ignore his injured pride for now.
"Mhm. I'll do whatever you like. Why wouldn't I? You take such good care of me." Sasuke replies with a seductive purr to his voice.
That whole seductive purr thing was a bitch to pull off with a broken rib. Sasuke was rather proud of himself for managing it actually. Still he was glad he did. Naruto was definitely buying the adoring love slave act.
He was buying it in a very BIG way if the bulge Sasuke felt underneath his ass was any indication. He was sitting in Naruto's lap now. The younger Uchiha knew that was not a sword that he felt pressing against him. Naruto was getting aroused by his fake submission. Really, really aroused actually.
"Alright. I won't kill him this time, but if he ever puts you in danger like that again…I can't make any promises." The boisterous pirate informs him.
"I can live with that." Sasuke agrees.
"Well it seems as though he's doing a rather convincing job of it so far." Gaara muses to Itachi.
His lover nods. Itachi leads the red head off to a more private corner of the cave. Naruto wasn't the only one who wanted some more alone time with his beloved.
"As I said, he can probably only manage it a couple weeks at most. I'm rather blessed to have you in this respect and in every other respect. You are such a delightfully cooperative lover." Itachi states as he captures the other captain's lips in a heated kiss.
Gaara returns it happily. It felt good to enjoy the other man's loving embrace again. Things had been so chaotic lately. He supposed that was just the price that one paid for being a pirate though.
"Mmm delightfully cooperative? I don't believe I've ever had that description applied to me before." He states in amusement after breaking the kiss.
"Well it is accurate. Everything about you is delightful." Itachi informs him and places feather light kisses along the Captain of Suna's collarbone as if to emphasize his point.
Gaara sighs softly in pleasure. That felt good. Really good. Some days, he couldn't believe that Itachi was actually his lover. He half wondered when he would wake up and discover that it was all just a wonderful dream.
"I feel the same way about you." The red head tells him and runs his fingers through his lover's dark tresses.
It was tempting just to forget about Kurama's treasure. He was certain that he and Itachi had more than enough stolen loot to be set for life, possibly ten life times. Why risk their lives on a quest that might prove to be a wild goose chase?
"Mmm I know what you're thinking. Don't. Naruto would have all our heads, if we turned back now. Sasuke was injured to find this treasure. So now, it's personal." He warns him.
"Damn. You're right. Well it's late. We should probably all get some sleep. Maybe the storm will have died down by morning." Gaara suggests and Itachi nods in agreement.
Everyone was settling down for the night. Some of the pirates were exchanging stories around the campfire. Naturally, Deidara couldn't resist trying to steal the spotlight.
"So I just walk right into the women's baths. They actually thought I was a woman because I have long hair. Yeah! Best day of my life!" He exclaims cheerfully.
"You pervert!" The women all snap at him and the bubbly blonde just smiles proudly.
Kisame shakes his head in amusement. Deidara was going to end up as black and blue as he was at this rate. He hoped for the kid's sake, he knocked it off soon.
The women were shooting him some rather dirty looks. Deidara was in for a beating if he didn't cease his eccentric antics immediately. A very vicious one by the looks of it.
He sighs as he looks at Naruto and Sasuke. He knew that the blonde was just upset that his lover had almost died. It was only natural, but he also knew that he had to watch his step from now on. It was a miracle that the other Captain hadn't actually killed him.
"I'd stay out of Naruto's sight for awhile." Jugo offers good-naturedly.
"Yeah. I'm planning on doing exactly that. I didn't mean for anything to happen to the brat. It's just Karin was about to go overboard. He looked fine. I only turned my back for a moment." The blue skinned man replies.
"I know. Sometimes that's all it takes. I'm sure that Naruto will get over it eventually though. Sasuke will be fine. A broken rib is nothing to sneeze at, but he'll recover." The orange haired pirate says reassuringly and Kisame nods in agreement.
Meanwhile unbeknownst to the Sharingan, Konoha, and Suna crews, Guy had just docked. His new crew had managed to get them to the island. Unfortunately, they had lost ten men in the process. Still most of them were alive and that's what counted.
"Captain, what are your orders?" One of the sailors asks.
"Find shelter immediately. We need to come up with a plan. There are far too many of them to just charge in without one." Guy thunders at his crew.
They quickly head to the forest on the island. The trees would provide at least some cover from the heavy rain. Not much though. They were all miserable, but it was too risky to go back to the ship.
"Damn it, Kakashi. You had better be alive." Guy mutters to himself as he starts cutting down a few trees.
Maybe they could build some temporary huts or something. They would all get sick from exposure, if they didn't find real shelter. He could see caves in the distance and that made their plight even more vexing.
"Captain, wouldn't it be easier to just go to the caves?" One of the men asks.
"It would, but I can see a fire. The pirates have already claimed them. If we aren't ready for battle, we shouldn't head there. Just start working on putting up some huts." He orders and the men nod, quickly getting to work.
None of them wanted to risk his wrath. Guy had quite the reputation. Oh he wasn't a cruel man. Well at least not in the usual way, but everyone knew his favorite punishment was having his men run a hundred laps. No one wanted to do that, especially in this weather.
Guy sighs as he chops down a tree. This was rather depressing. He had never seen the sea more angry. Maybe it was just as upset as he, about Kakashi's kidnapping. Yes, that must be it.
"Captain, we have one hut constructed." Another sailor says about an hour alter.
"Good. The sickest men, should go inside it. The rest of you need to keep at it! The power of youth will overcome even the mightiest of storms!" He exclaims.
The men all look at Guy as if they were afraid that he had gone mad. Maybe he had. They back away from him and his blindingly bright teeth slowly.
"Why does everyone always look at me that way?" He asks with a heavy sigh at their reaction.
Elsewhere Haku and Obito had been forced to dock on a different island. They saw the storm was coming and had wisely decided to stop moving for now. They knew where they were going. There was no rush. It wasn't like the Uchiha brothers were crazy enough to continue on in the middle of a hurricane.
"Thank God that A knew where they were going." Haku mutters as they check in at an Inn.
"Indeed. God only knows what goes on in their heads." Obito mutters in annoyance.
He would find Kakashi. Obito would save his sorry arse. Then he'd probably kill him, himself. Of course, he would revive him. Then he'd beat him. Then they would go out and get many ales together and it would be like old times.
Obito couldn't believe that Kakashi had allowed himself to get captured. That was very not like Kakashi. He sighs and pays for their rooms. Oh well. There was nothing they could do but wait out the storm now.
"You must have loved him greatly." He says to his partner in crime.
"More than anything. I'm going to make those cowards pay for what they did to him. They cut him down like an animal. I don't think they even batted an eye as they took my most precious person from me. Without him, my life has no meaning. At the very least, I can avenge him. Then he can find some peace." The feminine looking man reasons.
The elder man nods sympathetically. He could understand Haku. He had felt the same way when Rin went missing. Unfortunately, he did not even have the closure of knowing whether she was dead or alive. So in a way, Haku was luckier than him.
"I hope that you get your revenge. These people also kidnapped my friend. I say that we both have just cause to make them regret it." He says and offers the other man a smile.
"Yes, I'd say we both do. Soon enough this storm will clear up. When I find them, I'm going to slit all of their throats." Haku mutters as he heads into his room and Obito nods in agreement.
He heads inside his room. Obito was mostly grateful that they hadn't been stuck on the High Seas during this monstrous storm. That was just a quick way to an early grave.
The shipyard owner had some damn fine ships, if he said so himself. He wasn't entirely certain even his could stand against nature's wrath in this instance. He sighs and pours himself a glass of ale.
"Times like these call for a drink." He murmurs to himself as he downs it quickly.
Obito was not a particularly heavy drinker. But he could hold his liquor with the best of them, if the situation called for it. This situation definitely called for it.
Back on the island, Sasuke cuddles up to Naruto some more. This seemed to calm him down. That and if Sasuke was being completely honest with himself, it was nice to be so warm.
"That's somewhat disturbing." Naruto muses.
"Mmm what is?" Sasuke asks his lover in confusion.
"I can hear your brother ravishing Gaara, if I listen closely." The blonde replies honestly and Sasuke sputters.
What?! He had to be joking? He was joking, right? God he hoped so. He'd be traumatized or life, if he overheard his brother having sex with the red head (or anyone really.).
"You're not serious, are you?" Sasuke asks.
"I'm not making it up, my pearl. Listen very closely and you can hear it. The blue eyed pirate insists.
"I don't want to hear it! That's disgusting! I don't want to hear my brother locked in the throws of passion! That's sick." Sasuke says and makes a disgusted face.
Naruto chuckles. Sasuke must be feeling better, if he was so animated. He breathes a sigh of relief at this discovery. Thank goodness. He had almost lost Sasuke. Never again. He'd never place him in harm's way like that again.
"ITACHI!" The Captain of Suna's cries ring throughout the caves.
"GAARA!" The elder Uchiha soon joins his lover in what sounded like one Hell of an orgasm.
Sasuke feels his face heat up. Yes, he was definitely traumatized for life. He definitely did not need to hear that.
He was happy that his brother had found love. Really, he was thrilled for Itachi and Gaara. That didn't mean that he wanted to overhear their lovemaking though!
"Oh Sasuke, don't look so traumatized. They aren't being any louder than we were." Naruto says smugly.
"That's different. That was us. Not my brother." Sasuke insists.
Naruto shakes is head. He smiles and runs his fingers through Sasuke's hair. He was just so relieved that the other man was still alive.
"Well sounds like they are having fun. Yeah?!" Deidara asks with a laugh and Sakura whacks him.
"PERVERT!" She exclaims and Deidara puts his hands over his head to keep from getting smacked again.
Rin and Kakashi blink. Well they were certainly a very lively crew. You had to give them that much. It was a bit disturbing really.
"Hey, Angel. Here's a blanket. Don't want you to get too cold." Suigetsu says as he wraps one around Hinata.
"I'm no angel, but thank you." She says with a smile and snuggles into it for warmth.
Konan shakes her head. She was surrounded by crazy people. Yes, she was. Honestly, she was starting to feel a little overwhelmed.
She loved her comrades as if they were her own blood. But most of the people from the other crews, she didn't know that well. Besides, it was always good to get some alone time and recharge.
"Do you really think that we'll find the treasure?" Temari asks Shikamaru.
"What a drag. This is probably a wild goose chase, but don't tell the Captains that. It'd be wise to especially not tell Naruto. He has his heart set on finding this treasure. Probably even more so now, because his lover got hurt on this ridiculous quest." Her husband replies and yawns.
Temari shakes her head. Shikamaru was so lazy about anything that wasn't related to sex. He was likely going to fall asleep soon. She sighs and curls up against his side.
The blonde woman was grateful that she had him on this trip. She probably would have gone mad otherwise. Just listening to Gaara in the distance with Itachi was well…uncomfortable to put it mildly.
"That's unfortunate." She murmurs.
"Oh and don't be a hypocrite. Gaara has walked in on more than once. He's been rather gracious about it. You should do the same for him." Shikamaru gently chides her.
Temari rubs the back of her head sheepishly. That was true, but this was a little different. They were married. Itachi and Gaara weren't.
"Well he should be gracious about it. We are married, after all. Surely, he has to expect it." The feisty pirate protests.
"Yes, I'm sure that he does expect it. That doesn't mean that it was a pleasant thing for him to walk in on. Be happy for him." He insists.
Temari was very happy for Gaara. She had known for years that her youngest brother carried a torch for the sexy Captain. She was happy that he had finally found true love. Still that didn't mean that she wanted to hear him while he was lost to passion!
"I am happy for him." She says.
"Good. Get some sleep my love. It's a drag, but we'll probably set sail this morning. It'd be a good idea to be well rested. We have a long journey ahead of us, most likely." The genius reasons.
Temari nods. She closes her eyes. She soon drifts off to sleep in her lovers arms.
"So are you okay?" Kiba asks Karin on the other side of the cave.
"I think so. I'm lucky Kisame saved me. I know that Naruto hates him now because of it. I feel guilty." She admits.
"Trust me. I understand completely. Naruto went to save me and didn't realize Sasuke had gone overboard. I'm damn lucky that I'm not a target of his wrath. I know what Naruto can be like when he gets angry." The canine lover admits.
Karin nods. She didn't know Naruto well. She had thought that he was a rather gentle person. That was until she had seen him tear into Kisame. He had been nothing short of savage. It was an experience that she wasn't eager to repeat.
"Yes, I guess we are both rather lucky in that respect. Poor Kisame. Though I'm not sure if there is anything we can do to help him mend fences with the Captain." She states.
Kiba nods in agreement. Naruto was a very loyal person, but he also could hold a grudge. Damn could he hold a grudge. He was surprised that Kisame was still breathing, quite honestly.
"Well come on. Let's get some sleep. I think the storm should die down by the morning and we'll probably be off. Hopefully, we find the treasure. That would be something, wouldn't it?" He asks.
Karin nods in agreement. That would certainly be something. People had been looking for Kurama's treasure for hundreds of years. If they found it, they would all truly be legends.
They would go down in history. A pirate loved only one thing more than treasure. That was becoming famous or infamous. It looked like they were well on their path towards getting both.
