Piracy

Chapter 13

Legend

Lacus's P.O.V

The night went by slowly. Shinn and Stellar had left some time ago with Stellar whispering something into Shinns ear and Shinn turning five different shades of red but none the less taking Stellar by the hand and rushing off to some remote location.

It was so sweet to see the two of them together like that. Even if only a few moments prior they had been at each others throats, arguing on what could possibly be the reason for the others leaving and not telling them the reason for their departure or why they couldn't come.

I myself am very curious as well. Kira had seemed very anxious to go and very determined to keep it a secret. It really is none of my business. Kira is entitled to keep things to himself; however the curiosity I feel just won't leave me alone.

I can't be certain but I have a feeling that whatever it is that has Kira so worked up will affect our stay in Orb. I have to admit that I really do like it here. The island is beautiful and peaceful, there aren't too many places like this left in the world and I can't help but wonder how long this place will remain this way or how long the people who inhabit this tiny island will be safe.

As much as I hate to admit to it, this is the home of many wanted criminals, and with the world getting smaller, new places being discovered and charted on maps it really is only a matter of time before someone discovers this place and government and law will be enforced.

It saddens me to think of all these people whom most have been so nice and polite to me would one day may have to face being lead to the gallows to be hanged. Children being orphaned all because their parents had made some bad choices in the past.

Sighing I tried pushing the thoughts out of my head. I really shouldn't be dwelling on such things. Finishing the grog that I had been sipping for the past two hours I set my glass down and tried to well away the nausea in my stomach from consuming the alcohol. I still haven't developed any immunity to rum and I don't think I ever will.

Personally I have no idea how anyone does it. Especially Cagalli and Stellar. Woman or not they have to be the best or worst drinkers I have ever met. On a few occasions I have found them engaged in drinking games with them either winning or it being a close call. Such a strange world they live in from what I grew up in.

Yawning I stood from my place at a small table and stretched my arms slightly. Trying to undo the knots of tension from the day's activities within her shoulders.

My feet clacking softly on the wooden floor and stairs I descended up to my own room for a nights rest. Hopefully things will all seem clearer in the morning.

With Stellar and Shinn

Stellar giggled softly as she and Shinn emerged from a small thicket of trees. Shinn seemed a bit flushed as did Stellar but both had large grins plastered on their faces.

Looking at Shinn again Stellar removed her hand from her mouth and smiled even wider showing her teeth. "You really should loosen up a bit Shinn. Stellar and Shinn were only kissing." Stellar commented tilting her head to the side.

Shinn only sighed at the girls' behavior. Stellar was so naive that she didn't even find anything even remotely embarrassing. Though that was why he liked her. She was so care free and didn't seem to dwell on ridiculous problems such as being proper or not making a fool of her. He would admit that at times it was bothersome not being able to have a serious conversation with her but it that was about it.

"It's getting late we should head back inside." Shinn said looking up at the sky which was now a dark blue, almost black.

Stellar frowned taking one look at the sky before spinning on her heels and running off.

Shinn who was startled by the girls' sudden movement couldn't think of anything but to run after the girl. "HEY! STELLAR!" Shinn shouted as he chased after the girl who was a good 20 feet ahead of him.

Stellar ignored him and kept running. Shinn frowned and ran faster and was closing in on the girl. The blonde was just within arms reach when Stellar stopped suddenly causing Shinn to crash into her.

As they collided Stellar stumbled forward and both of them landed with a splash into the cold ocean water.

Sitting up so that Stellar could get her face out of the water Shinn just realized how far they had run. "Stellar are you ok?" Shinn asked as the girl sat up and coughed the sea water out of her mouth.

Both were sitting in the water not caring that they were getting wet.

Stellar looked up with a smile. "Stellar wanted to ask Shinn something." Stellar said after her small coughing fit was done with.

Brows narrowing Shinn looked at Stellar with small annoyance. "Couldn't you have asked me before? Why did we have to come out here?"

Stellar frowned. "Stellar wants to know if Shinn would be sad if Stellar…dies." Stellar asked her voice shaky.

Eyes widening as large as dinner plates Shinn looked at Stellar in speculation. "What are you talking about Stellar?"

Stellar looking towards the water where her right hand was tracing different patterns creating small ripples. "When Stellars parents died someone said that because Stellar was so sad was because Stellar loved her parents. So Stellar would like to know if Shinn would be sad if Stellar died?" she replied.

Looking at the girl for a few moments Shinn tried to register what Stellar was talking about. Normally Stellar got all scared and panicked when ever talking about death as her parent's death had took its toll on her mind. However now she was very serious which was very uncharacteristic.

Then it hit Shinn. Ruby eyes softening as the looked at the magenta eyed girl Shinn smiled softly. "Stellar are you asking me if I love you?"

Stellar didn't say anything just looked up at Shinn, water dripping from her wet hair into her face and trailing down until it dripped off her chin.

Smiling Shinn wrapped the girl in a tight embrace. "Yes Shinn would be sad if Stellar died." Shinn said talking in the third person like Stellar always did.

Stellar smiled brightly. "Stellar would be sad if Shinn died to."

Shinn couldn't help but laugh as he was so happy. Even if they didn't use the exact words he was happy.

Old Man Blooms

Bloom smiled and cracked his fingers as he wriggled them under Kira nose. "I believe it is time that you and I had a talk about that very chest."

Kira frowned. "Just tell me where my father buried it."

Bloom removed his hand from under Kiras nose and returned it to clutching his bottle of rum. "Now why would I do that? Your father left me in charge of that knowledge. Why would I betray my dear old friends trust?"

Kira slammed is fist onto the table. "Because you are dieing! Your nothing but an old man now and you don't want that chest whereabouts to die along with you!" Kira shouted his eyes blazing.

Bloom smiled as Mwu placed a hand on Kiras shoulder. "Calm down kid."

Bloom took a swing of his rum before clearing his throat to speak. "Ye are right Kira. I don't want that chests whereabouts to die with me. That chest was your fathers' greatest possession and he would have done anything to keep it a secret. So I was the only one who had the honor of being with him when he went out to bury it."

Cagalli and Athrun looked at each other a bit confused. "What exactly is in this chest?" Athrun asked looking at every occupant in the room.

Kira looked at Athrun. "I don't know."

Everyone was silent.

Cagalli though being the way she was interrupted the silence by slamming her own fist down on the table in annoyance. "What do you mean you don't know?"

Bloom and Mwu chuckled at the girls tone while Kira and Athrun sighed.

Cagalli glared at everyone. "What? We come here trying to find out the location of some chest that is so legendary and we don't even know what is in side!"

Kira sighed shaking his head before turning back to Bloom. "So are you going to tell us where it is?"

Cagalli seethed not taking to lightly that she as being ignored. "Hey did you not hear me?"

Kira just continued to ignore the girl. "Well are you going to tell me or not?" Kira said not wavering his gaze from Bloom.

Cagalli growled. "Kira…!"

Kira snapped at her though. "Shut up!"

Everyone but Bloom flinched at the sound of Kiras angry voice. "This chest was left by our father and no I don't know what's in it for sure but I have an idea and I want verification alright?" Kira snapped his voice as sharp as a blade but his eyes where softly pleading for Cagalli to just try to behave.

Huffing Cagalli leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms much to the amusement of the men of the room.

Bloom chuckled. "I must say I can see that you are Ulen's son, even if you are better at controlling your temper." Bloom mused.

Kira glared. "Tell me where the chest is."

Bloom raised a grey eyebrow and leaned forwards slightly. "Why are ye so interested in this chest my boy? I did call you here to tell you what ye desire but I would just like to know what has kept your interest in this chest for so many years.

Kira frowned but than smiled. "That's for me to know and for you to try and figure out. Now tell me all that you know."

Bloom cackled slightly a long finger scratching the side of his face before he spoke. "Before I do, you all realize that this is no ordinary chest."

Athrun frowned. "I would think so if we are willing to go through so much trouble for this one chest."

Bloom smiled. "So I take it none of you know the legend behind this chest?"

All shook their heads besides Mwu. "I know bits and parts of the legend but I have never heard the whole version." The blonde pirate said his voice low.

Bloom smiled his old teeth poking threw cracked lips. "Well then let me in lighten you all then. The legend is this."

"Amongst the trees of a dark wood

Caution you take or so you should,

Between earth and hell it rest,

A thousand dead souls contained in a chest,

The dead they sleep in their graves,

But with this blade they cannot be saved,

Ye how posses this deadly treasure,

Will conquer the seas now and forever."

As Bloom finished the rhyme a long silence was followed. No one spoke as most of them had never heard the legend before and taking in its twisted clues was a bit confusing.

"So what part did you here?" Bloom asked is cat like eye focusing on Mwu.

Mwu responded quickly. "I heard the first part up to the line about the chest. The rest was lost in manuscript when the Coordinator sunk"

Bloom nodded. "Yes Ulens ship, such a shame, that man was one of the greats."

Cagalli frowned as yet another lengthy silence swept over them. "So no one here has any idea of what is in this chest?"

Kira sighed and looked at his cutlass that was still imbedded in the table's wood. "As I said I have an idea."

Bloom smiled and leaned over passing his bottle of rum to the younger brunet man. "And what my boy do you believe to be continents of this chest?"

Kira took the bottle and took a long gulp of the strong liquid not caring that such disgusting man was the last user of the bottle. He needed the alcohol to help calm his mind a little.

"A sword." Was Kiras simple reply.

Cagalli made a face that was scrunched up in an unattractive fashion. "A sword?"

Kira nodded. While Bloom smiled and laughed though it was more like a wheeze as his raw throat did not allow him to laugh the way he once could. "Right you are my boy, a sword."

Athrun frowned his brows knitting together in deep thought. "Wait, if it is a sword that is in this chest, why is it called the "Chest of A thousand Dead Souls"?" Athrun questioned confusion laced in is voice.

Bloom sighed a ragged breath. "It is called the "Chest of A thousand Dead Souls", because as you all know Ulen was a ruthless pirate with the blood of many men on his hands."

All nodded in agreement.

Bloom continued. "Well one day a few weeks before his death Ulen went mad. Claming a ghost of a woman who was the dead widow of a man he killed came to him in a dream and threatened to kill his son and daughter if he did not take his own life with the very sword he had used to kill so many. Of course Ulen would not commit suicide but like most pirates at the time Ulen was very superstitious and he was sure that the ghost only found him because of the blood stains of her husband on his sword. So he asked me to come with him to bury the sword in a chest. I agreed and I was to only give out the location of sword to you Kira when you were ready sort to speak. In a way that sword is his last gift to you." Bloom rasped before going into a coughing fit.

Athrun frowned. "Why would Ulen want to give Kira a sword that he claimed was haunted by a ghost."

Bloom coughed a few more times before smiling. "That sword was great, legendary even, a thousand men died at the end of its blade. However the sword was never meant to be used in such a way. Its forger was an old blacksmith who created it to protect his family back in the days when war was more brutal. When Ulen used it for…killing out of cold blood, the sword was tainted, but if the sword is found and used for its true purpose then the poor ghost of the woman can rest in peace as her dear husbands blood can be cleaned off it."

Kira snorted at the last bit. "It's just a story, none of that is true. My father went crazy because of all the men he killed finally got to his head. It has nothing to do with ghosts or anything like that. It's just some myth."

Bloom shrugged his boney shoulders that were covered by his coat before smiling wistfully. "Whatever you say my boy."

"So are you going to tell us or not?" Mwu asked as he was getting a bit annoyed with waiting.

Bloom nodded before standing up and grabbing a cane that was resting against the table beside him. Padding towards a messy desk behind him he pulled an old piece of aging paper from one of the drawers. Handing the paper to Kira he stood next to the boy not bothering to take his seat again.

"This is a map of an uncharted island. This will lead you to the location of the chest, but I must warn you the natives on the island are bloodthirsty and will not hesitate to kill you if you are spotted on their land." Bloom explained while Kira unfolded the paper to look at a faded map of a small remote island.

"So this is the exactly locations?" Kira asked not tarring his eyes away from the paper.

Bloom nodded adjusting his coat. "Yes, the coordinates for the island are correct almost to the last detail but the location of the chest is a bit sketchy. Though it is a very good general idea of were the chest is."

Athrun leaned over the table to take a look at the map before looking at Bloom. "How do we know that the natives on the island haven't dug it up?"

Bloom turned around and headed out of the room. "That is something you will have to risk."

Standing up Kira re-rolled the paper and placed it in is coat and headed for the door. "Thank you."

Everyone quickly followed more than happy to leave the creepy house that smelled terrible. Bloom didn't say anything and blew out is lamps as the four left the house.

Outside

"Kira!" All three pirates shouted as the finally got out of the woods and speed up their pace to keep up with that of their captains.

"Kira you aren't really thinking of going after this chest are you?" Athrun asked his rational side showing.

Not stopping Kira kept his gaze forward. "Of course why wouldn't I?"

Athrun gawked at him. "Well first off it's just a sword and do we really want to risk our loves just for something that might not being there anymore?"

Kira stopped and glared. "This is that last thing left by my father and it was meant for me. My whole life I have waited for the time when I could finally go after it. It is one of the reasons I became a pirate in the first place!" Kira shouted and headed towards the inn.

"We leave tomorrow so make sure that tomorrow morning we are fully prepared so inform the men first thing." Kira shouted over his shoulder.

Athrun glared after his retreating back as Cagalli placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "I agree with Kira Athrun. This may seem stupid and impulsive to you, but this means a lot to him and me. This sword may be meant for Kira but I to want to retrieve our father's last treasure." Cagalli said as she removed her hand and went after her brother.

Mwu smiled at Athrun before heading after the other two. "I agree with them, plus it should be fun."

Standing alone Athrun sighed while shaking his head before heading after the others. "Why do I get the feeling that is will only lead to more trouble than this sword is worth?" Athrun mumbled.

Mwu laughed and called over his shoulder. "Years of experience."

A/N I had several new betas for this story so hopefully this is a little better in the spelling and grammar area. I don't want to hear any more complaints because if it's not up to your standard now it is never going to be. So enough!

Thanks again to all the people for reading and review and also to those who edit for me.

Love ya guys!